The Lincoln Memorial: A Monument to History

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

Building a Legacy in Stone

Now that you’re curious about the Lincoln Memorial, travel back in time and uncover how it was built and what makes it so special.

A Memorial in the Making

Two years after President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, Congress received its first request to build a statue in his honor.

A small statue was placed outside City Hall in Washington, D.C., but people wanted something grander for the man who had preserved the Union and ended slavery.

By 1910, Congress finally approved the construction of a larger memorial, forming the Lincoln Memorial Commission to select a location and design.

After much debate, the commission decided on a spot at the far end of the National Mall, opposite the Capitol building. The location was meant to symbolize Lincoln watching over the government he fought to preserve.

The Design Debate

The next challenge? Deciding what Lincoln’s memorial should look like.

Some believed a simple log cabin would be best, honoring Lincoln’s humble beginnings. Others wanted something more dramatic. In the end, architect Henry Bacon’s Greek temple design won.

Inspired by the Parthenon in Athens, the structure featured 36 towering columns—one for each state in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death.

Inside, sculptor Daniel Chester French’s massive statue of Lincoln was initially planned to be just 10 feet tall. However, as the memorial took shape, it became clear that a larger statue was needed to fill the grand space.

French expanded it to 19 feet, ensuring the towering columns around him wouldn’t dwarf Lincoln.

A Monument for the Ages

Construction began in 1913 and continued through World War I. Despite wartime delays, the Lincoln Memorial was completed in 1922. Lincoln’s last surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, was in attendance when it was dedicated.

Since then, the Lincoln Memorial has become more than just a monument—it has become a stage for history. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech to modern-day protests, the memorial has stood as a symbol of democracy, equality, and the fight for justice.

Now that you know how the Lincoln Memorial was built and what it represents, head to the Got It? section to test your knowledge and closely examine its role in history!