Statue of Abraham Lincoln (Jefferson, Iowa) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln Statue
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | Junction of Lincoln Way and Chestnut St. Jefferson, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1918 |
| Built by | Bureau Brothers Foundry |
| Architect | W. Granville Hastings |
| Part of | Jefferson Square Commercial Historic District (ID11000503) |
| MPS | The Lincoln Highway in Greene County, Iowa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000165 |
| Added to NRHP | March 29, 1993 |
The Lincoln Statue is an important landmark in Jefferson, Iowa. It stands on the grounds of the Greene County Courthouse. This statue was put up in 1918. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This list keeps track of places important to American history. In 2011, the statue also became part of the Jefferson Square Commercial Historic District. This means it helps make the whole area special.
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The Lincoln Statue: A Special Landmark
The Lincoln Statue in Jefferson, Iowa, is very unique. It was the very first statue of Abraham Lincoln placed next to the famous Lincoln Highway. This highway was one of the earliest roads across America. The statue was made to honor both Lincoln and the highway.
What Does the Statue Look Like?
The statue is a copy of another statue by W. Granville Hastings. That original statue is in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Lincoln Statue in Jefferson is made of bronze. It is the same size as a real person.
The statue stands on a base made of two parts. The bottom part of the base has a cool pebblestone finish. The top part is covered with granite, which is a strong type of stone. On this upper part, there is a bronze plaque. This plaque has the last paragraph of Lincoln's second inaugural address. This was a very important speech given by President Lincoln.
Who Donated the Statue?
The statue was a special gift from Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Wilson. They decided to donate the statue when the new courthouse was finished in 1917. The Wilsons did not have children. They wanted to give something big and lasting to their community.
The Greene County Board of Supervisors agreed to help. They paid for half the cost of the statue's base. The Bureau Brothers Foundry in Philadelphia was chosen to make the statue. They even added the special plaque for free.
Challenges During World War I
The original plan was for the statue to stand on a base of pink granite. This granite would come from Pipestone, Minnesota. However, World War I was happening at the time. The War Industries Board, which controlled materials during the war, would not allow the stone to be taken from the ground or carved. They said it had to wait until the war was over.
So, a company from Des Moines put up a temporary concrete base. The statue was dedicated on this temporary base on September 22, 1918. This "temporary" base stayed there for a long time! It was finally replaced with a new one in 1964.
A Famous Image
The new statue quickly became well-known. A photo of it was used on the cover of two publications in 1918. These were the Iowa State Highway Commission Service Bulletin and the Lincoln Highway Forum. In 1920, the Lincoln Highway organization even put an image of the statue on its mission statement. This shows how important the statue was to them.
Images for kids
