Hi friends! Do you know what this famous monument is? Yep, that’s right! It’s the Lincoln Memorial, and today we are going to learn some interesting facts about it. Ready? Let’s go!
The Lincoln Memorial was built to honor President Abraham Lincoln. He was the 16th president of the United States. He is famous for leading the country during the Civil War and helping to end slavery. Today, the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most famous monuments in the world!
The building’s design represents the Union, which is the group of states that stayed together during the Civil War. When Lincoln died, there were 36 Union states, so there are 36 columns around the memorial, each representing one state. When the monument was finished, there were 48 states in the Union, and their names are carved on the outside of the building. Later, a plaque was added for Hawaii and Alaska.
Inside the memorial, there is a giant statue of Abraham Lincoln. It was supposed to be 10 feet tall, but the finished statue is 19 feet tall and weighs nearly 175 tons! If you look closely at the back of a penny or a $5 bill, you can see a tiny picture of the Lincoln Memorial.
Inside the memorial, you can read the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. These are important speeches that Lincoln gave. There was a mistake on the wall where the word “Future” was spelled as “Ure,” but it has been fixed now.
Did you know that a former Confederate Lieutenant Colonel named Joseph Blackburn helped start the construction of the memorial? Also, President Nixon once talked with Vietnam War protesters right in front of the monument!
There are murals inside the memorial that show Lincoln’s principles like Freedom, Liberty, and Justice. Underneath the memorial, there is a huge basement that is being restored. Workers have left some fun drawings and messages on the walls down there!
Wow, what a cool monument! If you want to learn even more about the Lincoln Memorial, you can visit our website at learn.org. We have lots of free resources and fun activities for you to explore!
Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learn.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
Build Your Own Monument: Gather some building blocks, clay, or any craft materials you have at home. Try to create your own version of the Lincoln Memorial. Think about the 36 columns and the big statue of Lincoln inside. How would you design it? Share your creation with your family and explain what each part represents.
Penny and $5 Bill Hunt: Ask an adult to help you find a penny and a $5 bill. Look closely at them to find the tiny picture of the Lincoln Memorial. What other details can you spot? Discuss with your family why you think these images are included on these pieces of money.
Speech Detective: With the help of an adult, find a copy of the Gettysburg Address or Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address online. Read a few lines together and talk about what you think Lincoln was trying to say. Why do you think these speeches are important enough to be displayed in the memorial?
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Cool facts about the Lincoln Memorial! Hi friends! Do you know what this famous monument is? Yep, that’s right! It is the Lincoln Memorial, and today we are going to learn some interesting facts about it. Ready? Let’s go!
As its name suggests, the Lincoln Memorial was built to honor President Abraham Lincoln, who was the 16th president of the United States. Today, it is one of the most famous monuments in the world. Here are some cool facts about the Lincoln Memorial:
The building’s theme represents the Union. At the time of Lincoln’s death, there were 36 Union states, and there are 36 columns representing each state. Carved in the stone on the outside of the building is the name of the 48 states, as there were only 48 states in the Union when the monument was completed. A plaque was later added for Hawaii and Alaska.
Lincoln is seated facing toward the Washington Monument. The Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural Address of 1865 are engraved on the inside walls of the memorial. In 1922, a reflecting pool was added, which sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, reflecting the monument beautifully.
The statue of Lincoln was originally supposed to be 10 feet in height, but the completed statue is 19 feet tall and weighs nearly 175 tons. If you look at the back of a penny and a $5 bill, you can see the statue of the Lincoln Memorial in the background, though you have to look closely because it is quite small.
There is a misspelled word engraved on the wall that reads “Ure,” but it should read “Future.” It has since been corrected, and you can see where the “e” was made into an “F.”
A former Confederate Lieutenant Colonel, Joseph Blackburn, turned the first shovelful of soil in the construction project on May 9, 1970, at 4:00 in the morning. President Nixon debated with Vietnam War protesters in front of the monument.
Murals portray Lincoln’s principles: Freedom, Liberty, Immortality, Justice, the Law, Unity, Fraternity, and Charity. There is a 43,000 square foot basement under the memorial that is being restored, and workers have left some lighthearted drawings and messages on the walls.
Wow, what a cool monument! If you want to learn even more about this memorial, head over to our website, learn.org.
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Hope you had fun learning with us! Visit us at learn.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.
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