Lincoln's Tomb - Springfield, IL
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Lincoln's Tomb - Springfield, IL
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
President Abraham Lincoln's Tomb is in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.
The day Abraham Lincoln died, April 15, 1865, a group of Springfield citizens formed the National Lincoln Monument Association to spearhead a fundraising drive to cover the cost of a memorial or tomb. Work began on Lincoln's Tomb in 1869, four years after his assassination. Although President Lincoln was moved to the tomb in 1871, it was not completed until 1874. The initial cost was $180,000.
Sculptor Larken G. Mead submitted the design of Lincoln's Tomb. A 117 feet high obelisk rests on a simple square building. At each corner of the spire is a bronze statue representing the four fighting forces of the Civil War, the infantry, cavalry, artillery, and navy, all were sculptured by Mead. Above the entrance of the tomb is a ten-foot-tall statue of Lincoln. In front of the tomb at ground level is a bronzed reproduction of Gutzon Borglum's marble sculpture of Lincoln located in the United States Capitol Crypt in Washington, D.C.
The State of Illinois assumed control of the tomb in 1895. Uneven settling of the earth under the tomb resulted in two reconstruction projects, one in 1901 and another in 1930. The interior was completely remodeled during the 1930 reconstruction and is the interior seen today.
Copyright 2022 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
July 21st, 2022
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