At the west end of the Mall is the Lincoln Memorial. The site was fixed by the McMillan Park Commission in 1901, which extended the Mall area of the original L’Enfant plan west three-fourths of a mile to the Potomac River. The site and surrounding area is known as Potomac Park. The reclaimed land, about 640 acres, comprises West Potomac Park and East Potomac Park (the island park).
Congress provided for the construction of the memorial to Abraham Lincoln by an act approved February 9, 1911, following the centennial year of the birth of Lincoln. The corner stone was laid February 12, 1915. The memorial is built of Colorado marble and cost $2,940,000. It was dedicated May 30, 1922. Lincoln died in 1865, so that it was 57 years later that this memorial to him in the National Capital was built. Henry Bacon, who died February 16, 1924, was the architect.
Very nearly 300,000 persons visited the Lincoln Memorial in the year 1923, and more than 1,000,000 in 1930. At present the daily average of visitors is 3,000. It is a shrine in which those who love God and country can find inspiration and repose.
The following is part of a technical description by the architect:
From the beginning of my study I believed that this memorial to Abraham Lincoln should be composed of four features—a statue of the man, a memorial of his Gettysburg speech, a memorial of his second inaugural address, and a symbol of the Union of the United States, which he stated it was his paramount object to save—and which he did save. Each feature should be related to the other by means of its design and position, and each should be so arranged that it becomes an integral part of the whole, in order to attain a unity and simplicity in the appearance of the monument.
Surrounding the walls inclosing these memorials of the man is planned a colonnade forming a symbol of the Union, each column representing a State—36 in all—for each State existing at the time of Lincoln’s death, and on the walls appearing above the colonnade, and supported at intervals by eagles, are 48 memorial festoons, one for each State existing at the present time.
The colonnade is 188 feet long and 118 feet wide, the columns being 44 feet high and 7 feet 8 inches in diameter at their base. The outside of the Memorial Hall is 84 feet wide and 156 feet long; the total height of the structure above the finished grade at the base of the terrace is 99 feet. The steps are 132 feet wide, leading to the entrance, which is flanked by tripods, each 11 feet high.
The central hall, where the statue stands, is 60 feet wide, 70 feet long, and 60 feet high. The interior columns are of the Ionic order and are 50 feet high.
STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN AS SEEN THROUGH THE COLUMNS
The statue of Abraham Lincoln, in the center of the Lincoln Memorial, is by Daniel Chester French.
It represents Abraham Lincoln as the great war President, with mental and physical strength and confidence in his ability to bring the Nation safely through the great conflict.
President Lincoln is seated in a great armchair 12¹⁄₂ feet high, over the back of which a flag has been draped. The figure of Lincoln is 19 feet high from the top of his head to the sole of his boot. The head measures 3 feet in height. The boot is 3¹⁄₂ feet long, and from the boot to the kneecap the distance is 8 feet. The pedestal, which is 18 feet 2 inches wide and 19 feet deep, rests on a marble platform 34¹⁄₂ feet wide and 28 feet deep. The statue weighs 150 tons; with its pedestal and base it rises to a height of 30 feet; and without the pedestal it is 21 feet in height.
The statue is of Georgia marble, was cut by Piccirilli Bros., marble-cutters, of New York City, and four years were required for its completion. The pedestal and base are of Tennessee marble.
Over the head of Lincoln is the inscription—
IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER
The interior is lighted through translucent panels of marble and by the great front opening. Recently a special system of lighting was installed.
The two decorations by Jules Guerin representing Emancipation and Reunion are painted on canvas. Each canvas weighs 600 pounds and is 60 feet long and 18 feet wide. The figures, of which there are 46 in the two panels, are 8¹⁄₂ feet high and were painted by the artist without assistance. Almost as many models as figures were used. The head of Mr. Bacon, the architect, appears in the decoration on the north wall, being the fourth figure in the group at the left of the angel.
The decorations are absolutely weatherproof, the paint being mixed with white wax and kerosene. The wax hardens but does not allow the paint to crack. Chemically it is similar to the wax, still pliable, which was found in the tombs of the Kings of Egypt. The decorations are affixed to the wall with a mixture of white lead and Venetian varnish.
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING BASIN
The Lincoln Memorial, while it terminates the Mall composition, has a position similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in that from it radiate drives and parkways in all directions—the Rock Creek Parkway to the north; westward across the Memorial Bridge to the Arlington National Cemetery, connecting also with the Mount Vernon Highway, the Lee Highway, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway; southward to East Potomac Park; and eastward along the Mall to the Capitol. The whole area is a remarkable achievement in city planning and shows what can be done with reclaimed land, for 20 to 25 years ago all the land surrounding the Lincoln Memorial was swampy.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Basin is 2,000 feet long and 160 feet wide. It has an average depth of about 3¹⁄₂ feet and reflects the entire Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. It is lined with trees and walks that will ultimately extend to the Capitol. The beauty of the future Mall treatment between the Capitol and the Washington Monument is indicated by the development between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
The water gate is a part of the great Lincoln Memorial composition. It consists of granite steps 206 feet wide at the top and 230 feet wide at the bottom.
Constitution Avenue will be the great “Memorial Boulevard” from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, and thence to Arlington National Cemetery.
Immediately to the south of the reflecting basin on the north and south axis is the marble band stand erected as the District of Columbia World War Memorial.
The Arlington Memorial Bridge was built under the supervision of the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, of which the President is chairman. The Commission of Fine Arts was consulted and advised as to the plans.
The project of building the Arlington Memorial Bridge has been before Congress since 1884. Previous to that time Daniel Webster, in an address on July 4, 1851, at the laying of the corner stone for enlarging the United States Capitol, referred to it as follows:
Before us is the broad and beautiful river, separating two of the original thirteen States, which a late President, a man of determined purpose and inflexible will, but patriotic heart, desired to span with arches of ever-enduring granite, symbolical of the firmly established union of the North and the South. That President was General Jackson.
ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE, ARCHITECTS’ DESIGN
The need of a bridge direct to Arlington National Cemetery was most urgently felt on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921, when the remains of the Unknown Soldier were entombed. Led by President Harding and officials of this Government and of many foreign countries, thousands of people who made the trip to Arlington did so under most difficult circumstances, because of the crowded traffic conditions. The Commission of Fine Arts was in session at the time, and at once recommended to Congress the preparation of plans for an Arlington Memorial Bridge, with an initial appropriation of $25,000. Congress responded quickly and made the appropriation available for expenditure by the Arlington Memorial Bridge Commission, by act approved June 12, 1922. On April 22, 1924, the commission submitted to Congress a comprehensive report on the subject and a set of approved plans that contemplated an expenditure of $14,750,000 for the project. Congress adopted the report and plans and has made the necessary funds available for the construction work as fast as the project developed. The architects of the bridge are McKim, Mead & White, of New York City, who are noted for the many great and beautiful classical structures they have built throughout the United States, as the Boston Public Library, the library at Columbia University, the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in New York City, and the McKinley Memorial at Niles, Ohio. This firm also had charge of the building of additions to the White House during the administration of President Roosevelt.
EAGLE SURMOUNTING PYLONS
BISON HEAD
The bridge extends from the Lincoln Memorial to Columbia Island, has a length of 2,138 feet, and is 90 feet wide, the width of Fifth Avenue in New York City. The bridge has been built as low as possible, consistent with good proportions, in order not to interfere with the view of the Lincoln Memorial from Columbia Island. There are 6 lanes on the bridge, each 10 feet wide, and 2 sidewalks, each 15 feet wide. The balustrade is 4 feet high. Suitable lighting is also provided.
Courtesy of Horydczak
ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE
The bridge has 9 segmental arches of 166-foot span at the ends of the bridge and spreading gradually to 184 feet at the center. The terminal arches rise to a point 28 feet above average water height, increasing gradually to 35 feet in the central arch. The piers are 32 feet wide and are firmly embedded in rock 35 feet below water. The superstructure is built of North Carolina granite.
EAGLE AND FASCES
At the entrance to the bridge at the Lincoln Memorial there will be two large sculptural groups, each 16 feet high. The pylons at the Columbia Island end of the bridge, which are 35 feet high, are surmounted by eagles 8 feet high, each cut out of a solid block of granite, according to the design of C. Paul Jennewein, sculptor.
At the sides of the bridge appear large sculptured disks, each 12 feet in diameter, and at the keystone of the arches there are buffalo heads 6 feet in height. These were also designed by Mr. Jennewein.
The two sculptural groups at the entrance to the bridge will be symbolic of War. They were designed by Leo Friedlander, sculptor. At the entrance to the Rock Creek Parkway there will be two sculptural groups symbolic of Peace and the arts of Peace, designed by James E. Fraser, sculptor. There will be appropriate inscriptions carved on the bridge.
COLUMBIA ISLAND PLAZA AND MEMORIAL AVENUE TO ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
THE ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE DEVELOPMENT, LOOKING TOWARDS THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
At the center of the bridge is a drawspan, each leaf of which has a length of 92 feet, the height of an 8-story building. One minute is required for opening and closing the drawspan, which is operated by electricity. Each leaf weighs 6,000 tons. It is in itself an interesting achievement in bridge engineering.
From Columbia Island westward there is the boundary channel bridge. From there to the Arlington National Cemetery is a memorial parkway 240 feet wide, 2,200 feet in length, lighted, lined with planting, and providing space at intervals for memorials.
At Arlington National Cemetery there is a large memorial entrance, from which walks and driveways lead to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Memorial Amphitheater and to Arlington House.
PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF GREATER ARLINGTON
Not only was the Arlington Memorial Bridge built in a period of 7 years, but one of the finest compositions in city planning has been carried out in connection with it. In addition to the treatment on Columbia Island Plaza and the approach to Arlington National Cemetery, there is also the great plaza at the approach to the bridge at the Lincoln Memorial, a sea wall for the Riverside Drive leading to it, and the water gate—steps of granite 215 feet wide—nearby.
The bridge was dedicated and opened for travel in 1932.