Lincoln Memorial and the reflecting pool at night

The Lincoln Memorial is considered to be one of the most profound symbols of American Democracy. It is located in West Potomac Park, on 23rd Street, NW in Washington D.C. It symbolizes many things to many different people, but at its most basic level besides being the symbol of American Democracy, it symbolizes the idea of Freedom. In addition, for many Americans it serves as a national Civil War memorial.

Talk of a memorial dedicated to the 16th American President began soon after Lincoln's death, but it took years before construction began. At first, there was no financial support behind it. The construction could begin just on February 12, 1914, on the 105th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. It took 8 years to complete the memorial. It was completed and ready for its dedication on Memorial Day, 30 May 1922.

The individuals selected to design the memorial were architect Henry Bacon, sculptor Daniel Chester French and artist Jules Guerin. Henry Bacon was the one who took care about the exterior of the memorial. Bacon chose to model the memorial after the temple in Greece known as the Parthenon. A memorial to a man who struggled and fought to defend and protect democracy was thus modeled after a structure found in the birthplace of democracy. The typical feature of ancient Greek architecture was columns around all the exterior part of the building. Bacon symbolically built 36 columns because at the time of Lincoln’s death there were 36 states in the newly established Union. Names of these states are placed above the columns. There is a marble staircase leading up to the entrance.

The interior of the Lincoln’s Monument is divided into three chambers. In the central chamber, there is a statue of Abraham Lincoln placed. It was created by sculptor Daniel Chester French.

The two flanking chambers houses speeches given by Lincoln during his presidency. The two speeches selected were the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address. The first mentioned is one of the most well known speeches from American history, on November 19, 1863 at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. The latter one, selected for the north chamber of the memorial was Lincoln's March 4, 1865 Second Inaugural Address. The speech, given one month before the conclusion of the Civil War, creates the policy for reuniting the divided states.

These speeches are accompanied by the work of artist, Jules Guerin, who had painted two large murals to be placed above each of the selected speeches. The mural placed above the Gettysburg Address depicts the "Angel of Truth" flanked on either side by slaves who are being freed. The "Angel of Truth" is placed also above the Second Inaugural Address, but this time there are representatives from both north and south who are being reunited on its sides.