Statue of Abraham Lincoln (Milwaukee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of Abraham Lincoln |
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| Artist | Gaetano Cecere |
| Year | 1934 |
| Type | bronze |
| Dimensions | 320 cm (126 in) |
| Location | Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee |
| 43°2′25.449″N 87°53′52.164″W / 43.04040250°N 87.89782333°W | |
| Owner | Administered by Milwaukee County, Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture |
The Statue of Abraham Lincoln is a cool sculpture found along Lincoln Memorial Drive in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. It was created by an American artist named Gaetano Cecere. This large, 10-foot-6-inch bronze statue shows a young Abraham Lincoln without his famous beard. He stands looking down, with both hands at his sides.
Contents
About the Lincoln Statue
What the Statue Looks Like
Gaetano Cecere's statue of Abraham Lincoln is very tall, standing at 10 feet 6 inches! It shows a young Lincoln, before he grew his famous beard. He is looking down, and his hands are at his sides. The statue is made of bronze and sits on a base of red granite stone.
Messages on the Statue
The statue has several important messages carved into it.
- On the back of the bronze part, it says: "Gaetano Cecere, Sculptor 1934." This tells us who made it and when.
- It also says: "Jno Williams, NY 1934." This is the company that helped make the bronze statue.
- On the front of the stone base, it simply says:
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN
- 1809-1865
- PRESIDENT
- EMANCIPATOR
- MARTYR
Quotes on the Pedestal
The stone base, called a pedestal, also has famous quotes:
- On one side, it has a line from Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address: "With malice toward none...and with all nations." This means he wanted peace and kindness for everyone.
- Another side explains who gave the statue: "This monument is a gift of the Grand Army of the Republic, the school children, workingmen and citizens in general of the city of Milwaukee as an expression of their love, loyalty of country and reverence for a great emancipator." This shows that many people, including kids, helped pay for it!
- The last side has quotes from famous writers about Lincoln:
- "One of Nature's Masterful Great Men" by Richard Henry Stoddard
- "A Man Inspired of God" by Henry Watterson
- "The Man of the People" by Edwin Markham
- "The First American" by James Russell Lowell
History of the Statue
Why a Lincoln Statue in Milwaukee?
Abraham Lincoln visited Milwaukee on September 30, 1859. He gave speeches at the Wisconsin Agricultural Society and at the Newhall House. Years later, in 1916, a group called the Lincoln Memorial Association wanted to build a statue. They wanted to remember Lincoln's visit and his importance.
How the Statue Was Funded
To pay for the statue, people raised money. Schoolchildren, businesses, and a group called the E.B. Wolcott Post of the G.A.R. all donated. They collected $23,000, which was a lot of money back then!
Building the Statue
The statue couldn't be built right away because the United States got involved in World War I. In 1932, the Lincoln Memorial Association held a contest to find the best design for the statue. Gaetano Cecere, a sculptor from New York City, won the competition.
Cecere decided to show a young Lincoln without his beard. Lincoln didn't grow his famous beard until he was 52 years old! Many people thought Cecere's statue was one of the best ever made of Lincoln. The red granite base for the statue was designed by Ferdinand Eisman. The statue was officially dedicated on September 15, 1934.
Where the Statue Has Been
The statue has moved a few times!
- It was first placed on Lincoln Memorial Drive, facing west.
- In 1954, it was put away in storage when the War Memorial Center was being built.
- Later, it was moved in front of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Club.
- Finally, in 1986, it was moved back to Lincoln Memorial Drive. Now, it faces north instead of west.
About the Artist: Gaetano Cecere
Gaetano Cecere was born in New York City. He loved art and studied it at the National Academy of Art in New York and in Paris, France. He won a special award called the Prix de Rome in 1920. This allowed him to study sculpture in Rome, Italy, for two years.
After his studies, Cecere returned to New York. He became a professor at Cooper Union, a famous art school. He later became the head of the sculpture department there. Cecere was known for his interest in the simple beauty of early Greek art.
Besides the Abraham Lincoln statue, Cecere created other important works. He designed the U.S. Army's Soldier Medal for Valor. He also made medals for art clubs and a monument in Montana.
