On This Day, March 29, 1867, just two years after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, the United States Congress first approved legislation to build a memorial in his honor. This marked the initial step towards creating the iconic Lincoln Memorial that now stands in Washington D.C.
The bill, passed by the 39th Congress, mandated that a monument be erected “in commemoration of the great events of the nation’s effort to preserve the Union.” It allocated federal land for the memorial’s construction on the western end of the National Mall.
However, establishing Lincoln’s memorial proved to be a long and tumultuous process. Funding issues, opposition, and debates over the design concept delayed progress for decades. It wasn’t until 1914 that construction finally began on the Greek Revival temple design submitted by architect Henry Bacon.
Crafted from Colorado marble and granite, the Lincoln Memorial was officially dedicated in May 1922 before a crowd of 50,000 people, including Lincoln’s only living son. The 19-foot statue of the 16th President sits solemnly, gazing eternally toward the United States Capitol building.
The March 29th legislation enacted in 1867 set in motion eventual fruition of this enduring symbol to one of America’s most iconic leaders. The Lincoln Memorial has hosted many historic events, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington. It remains a treasured monument and place of reflection.
