Dedicated in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial’s Doric temple by architect Henry Bacon houses Daniel Chester French’s seated Lincoln. On the National Mall’s axis, it frames speeches and civil rights milestones (King’s 1963 address). Marble conservation, visitor flow, and reflecting pool hydrology shape ongoing stewardship.
Modeled on a Greek Doric temple, the memorial re-centers Lincoln as unifier. Inscriptions of the Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural line interior walls; Jules Guérin murals tint the chamber with allegorical light.
Colorado-Yule marble clads Indiana limestone and Massachusetts granite; bronze and gold leaf details enrich the interior. The 5.8 m statue comprises Georgia marble blocks subtly adjusted for optical correction.
From Marian Anderson’s 1939 concert to the 1963 March on Washington, the memorial functions as a national stage. Conservation manages marble soiling, micro-cracking, and visitor wear; accessibility and lighting projects re-tune the visitor experience.
