Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lincoln Monument
Location	Laramie, Wyoming
Established	1959
Visitors	200,000 (in 2013)

The Lincoln Monument is a giant sculpture of Abraham Lincoln's head. It was made by an artist named Robert Russin. This huge bust is 12+1⁄2 feet (3.8 m) tall. It sits on a 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) granite base, called a pedestal.

You can find it at the Summit Rest Area on Interstate 80. This spot is just east of Laramie, Wyoming.

The Lincoln Monument in Wyoming

The artist, Robert Russin, first put the sculpture up in 1959. It was on Sherman Hill, which was part of the old U.S. Highway 30. This road was also known as the Lincoln Highway.

In 1969, a new highway, Interstate 80, was built. State officials decided to move the monument. They wanted it to be a main attraction. So, it was moved to the Summit Rest Area. This rest area is between Cheyenne and Laramie.

How the Monument Was Built

Building Lincoln's head started many years before 1959. It also began far away from Wyoming. Robert Russin knew that Wyoming's weather changed too much. He needed a steady place to create his sculpture.

So, he chose to work in Mexico City. Russin spent 11 months building the sculpture there. He used about 10 tons of clay. The final bronze bust weighed 4,500 pounds.

He made the sculpture using a method called the lost-wax process. The huge bronze head was cast in more than 30 pieces. These pieces were designed to be bolted together. After it was finished, the sculpture was shipped from Mexico to Laramie.

The Journey to Wyoming

The first part of the trip happened in 1958. The sculpture traveled by train to Denver, Colorado. Joe Russin, the sculptor's son, shared a fun story. He said, "The statue came up from Mexico with armed guards from the Mexican Army." They were worried someone might try to steal it.

From Denver, the Lincoln bust was moved by truck to Laramie. Everything went smoothly until the truck reached Laramie. Joe Russin remembered a problem. "My dad hadn’t thought about how low the wires were over Grand Avenue."

So, they had to move the sculpture through Laramie very early in the morning. Workers had to cut the electric and telephone wires. They did this for each block as the truck passed through.

Dedication and Visitors

The Wyoming Parks Commission officially opened the Lincoln Monument in 1959. This event celebrated Lincoln’s 150th birthday. The bust was first placed at the highest point of the Lincoln Highway. This highway stretched from New York to San Francisco.

Robert Russin wrote about the monument's location. He said, "The grandeur of the landscape recalls the nobility of his soul." He was talking about President Abraham Lincoln. The bust was moved to its current spot next to Interstate 80 after the highway was finished in 1969.

Today, about 200,000 travelers visit the monument each year.

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