The Lincoln Memorial will be the costliest monument to the memory of
one man ever reared by a republic. The Capitol, at one end of the
great parkway stretching from Capitol Hill to the Potomac, is a
monument to the Government; the Lincoln Memorial, at the other end of
that parkway, is a monument to the savior of that Government; and the
Washington Monument, standing between, is a monument to its founder.
The memorial will stand on a broad terrace 45 feet above grade. The
colonnade will be 188 feet long and 118 feet wide, and will contain 36
columns, 44 feet high and 7 feet 5 inches in diameter at the base.
Within the interior of the structure will be three halls. In the
central hall, which will be 60 feet wide, 70 long, and 60 high, there
will be a noble statue of Lincoln, while in the two side halls will be
bronze tablets containing the Great Emancipator's second inaugural
address and his Gettysburg speech. The George A. Fuller Company of
Washington are the builders of the Memorial, which will be completed
in 1917.
Samuel Green Wheeler Benjamin, born at Argos, Greece, February 13,
1837. Was United States Minister to Persia (1883-1885). Assistant
Librarian in the New York State Library. In 1861-1864 sent two
companies of cavalry to the war. Served in war hospitals, studied art.
Art editor of American Department _Magazine of Art_, also of the _New
York Mail_. Marine painter and illustrator. Among his numerous works
in prose and verse are _Art in America_, _Contemporary Art in Europe_
(1877); _Constantinople_ (1860); _Persia and the Persians_ (1866);
_The Choice of Paris_ (1870), a romance; _Sea Spray_ (1887), a book
for yachtsmen, etc.