THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
THE ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
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.
[Illustration: STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN AS SEEN THROUGH THE COLUMNS]
THE STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
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.
DECORATIONS
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.
[Illustration: THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL REFLECTING BASIN]
THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND SURROUNDING AREA
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
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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: EAGLE SURMOUNTING PYLONS]
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: _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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: COLUMBIA ISLAND PLAZA AND MEMORIAL AVENUE TO ARLINGTON
NATIONAL CEMETERY]
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.