By Lily Morgan
The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated in May 1922 to honor Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
Designed by architect Henry Bacon, the memorial is styled after a Greek Doric temple and features 36 columns.
The statue stands at a majestic height of 19 feet, almost double the originally planned 10 feet.
The interior murals were painted by Jules Guerin, and the epitaph above the statue was written by Royal Cortissoz.
The Lincoln Memorial has 58 steps: 2 symbolize his presidential terms and 56 mark his age at assassination.
The memorial is split into three chambers, with the central chamber housing the statue of Lincoln.
About 40 percent of the Lincoln Memorial is underground, which is not immediately apparent when viewing the monument from the outside.
It has been a major tourist attraction since its opening and serves as a symbolic center focused on race relations.
Abraham Lincoln’s statue looks towards the morning sun and the Washington Monument, symbolizing a new day and connection to history.