In February 1915, the first cornerstone for the Lincoln Memorial was laid. Seven years later, it was dedicated and thousands, if not millions, of visitors continue to visit each year. What draws so many to this memorial? Yes, people want to remember the man and his contributions to the country. But, the structure itself is quite impressive.
Situated at the end of the famous Reflecting Pool, visitors will need to climb 98 broad stone steps to reach the memorial’s entrance. (It’s worth it!) The memorial has the feel of a Greek temple, complete with 36 Doric columns. Each column represents one of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s untimely death. Visitors are awed as they enter the memorial - a 19 foot tall 175 ton statue of a seated Lincoln greets them. Words from Lincoln’s most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, along with his 2nd inaugural address have been inscribed on the memorial’s walls.
The memorial is run by the National Park Service. Park rangers give daily interpretative tours at the top of each hour. The tours do not only provide basic information about the memorial and the man, but plenty of fun facts and interesting trivia. If you can’t make the tours, no need to worry. The Park Service has tapped into technology and offers three interpretative programs you can listen to on your cell phone!
There is no admission to visit The Lincoln Memorial, but parking is at a premium. Let’s restate that – parking is pretty much non-existent in this part of town for tourists. You can take one of the many guided bus or trolley tours that stop here. But, we prefer to walk from the Washington Monument all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. It is a little bit of a hike, but there are plenty of other places to visit along the way, including the World War II Memorial and the moving Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
For more information about guided tours and interpretive talks, visit the Lincoln Memorial’s official website: www.nps.gov/linc.
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