Experiencing the Lincoln Memorial/Angel of Truth Freeing a Slave After personally experiencing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D. C. , my outlook on our nation’s past broadened and I understood the history that had happened at the monument. Only 7 p. m. and the sun had already set for the evening. Being in front of the massive white steps was nothing like seeing it on TV or in a magazine. First of all, the place was crowded with many numerous diverse people from around the world. It was difficult to move around and hear yourself think with so many people talking and shouting.
It was tiring making my way up the giant steps but I was I was eager to see the statue of Lincoln. I stood there amazed looking up at a colossal statue that I never thought would make me feel so small. Flashes of cameras were going off in every corner, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Lincoln’s replica. I was staring at a 99 foot statue of Abraham Lincoln seated in a chair. The northern wall contains an inscription of Lincoln’s second inaugural speech; the southern wall has the Gettysburg address inscribed. Above the inscription is a mural illustrating the angel of truth freeing a slave.
It was hard to believe that I was physically standing in front of something that I had only seen on TV or magazines. It wasn’t two dimensional anymore and I understood that it was authentic. The stone for the building is Indiana limestone and Yule marble, quarried at the town of Marble, Colorado. The Lincoln sculpture within is made of Georgian marble, quarried at the town of Tate, Georgia. The Lincoln Memorial is a United States Presidential memorial built to honor the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln Monument Association was incorporated by the United States Congress in March 1867 to build a memorial to Lincoln. Lincoln was President during the Civil War. A site was not chosen until 1901, in an area that was then swampland. Congress formally authorized the memorial on February 9, 1911, and the first stone was put into place on Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, 1909. The Abraham Lincoln Memorial is standing at the west end of the National Mall, in Washington D. C. and was dedicated on May 30, 1922. It is a neoclassical monument built to resemble a Greek temple.
It has 36 Doric columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln’s death. I was so excited to go to the Lincoln Memorial. There is so much history that was made at Lincoln. From different concerts over the years to Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a dream” speech. So I get off and I’m freezing my butt off. So I had to put on my hat. This was my senior year of high school. It was packed outside. To make things worse, the wind was blowing. It took us ten minutes to walk to the Lincoln Memorial. While walking I saw a concession stand that sold hot chocolate.
When we finally got to the Lincoln Memorial, I began to think about Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. I thought about how that speech changed America for what it is now. Not only did I get a picture of the Lincoln Memorial but I also got a picture of the Washington Monument. This was such a beautiful night scene. The decoration above the Gettysburg address in the central group typifies Freedom and Liberty. The Angel of Truth is giving Freedom and Liberty to the slave. The shackles of bondage are falling from the arms and feet. They are guarded by two sibyls.
The group to the left represents Justice and Law. The central figure in the Chair of Law has the Sword of Justice in one hand; with the other she holds the Scroll of the Law. Seated at her feet are two sibyls who are interpreting the Law. The standing figures on each side are the Guardians of the Law, holding the torches of intelligence. The group to the right represents Immortality. The central figure is being crowned with the laurel wreath of Immortality. The standing figures are Faith, Hope, and Charity. On either side are the vessels of wine and oil, the symbols of Everlasting Life.
