The Lincoln Memorial


Boats sail along the Potomac River behind the Lincoln Memorial, seen at the far end of the Reflectiong Pool in this aerial view above Washington DC on June 20, 2005. In the foreground is the National World War II Memorial, to Americans who served and died in World War II. It was dedicated by President George W. Bush on May 29, 2004. The Lincoln Memorial, a monument dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was dedicated by Warren G. Harding on May 30, 1922. Taking the form of a Greek Doric temple, it has 36 massive columns, each 33 feet (10 meters) high, entirely surrounding the building. Inside is Daniel Chester French’s sculpture of a pensive and worn Lincoln, 19 feet tall and 19 feet wide, facing out toward the National Mall. Lincoln was shot while attending a play at Ford’s Theater the night of April 14, 1865 and died early the next morning, becoming the first U.S. President to be assassinated. Photo by Gregg Newton/ZUMA Press