History Abraham Lincoln (Flannery)

1 history

1.1 background
1.2 dedication
1.3 removal , rededications

history
background

most of residents of washington, d.c. shocked , horrified assassination of republican president abraham lincoln on april 14, 1865. because of geographical location, city suspected of being sympathetic confederacy during civil war. since lincoln killed in washington, of residents worried republican congressional leaders seek revenge on city. thirteen days after lincoln died, in attempt show loyalty, city , business leaders decided erect memorial honoring slain president. first lincoln monument commissioned after death, not first 1 built. in 1866, plaster statue (later replaced metal one) of lincoln erected in san francisco. destroyed during firestorm followed 1906 earthquake.

the total cost of memorial $25,000. washingtonians responsible of donations remaining funds raised lincoln monument association. largest donation came john t. ford, manager of ford s theatre @ time of lincoln s assassination. held benefit performance @ theater in baltimore, raising $1,800. although several designs submitted, monument s planning committee unanimously chose model lot flannery (1836–1922), local irish-american artist, calling spirited , excellent likeness. flannery had known lincoln , @ ford s theatre night of assassination. statue statue of lincoln created knew him. in addition lincoln sculpture, flannery s notable works include arsenal monument @ congressional cemetery , sculpture of president chester arthur on display @ smithsonian american art museum. frank g. pierson chosen monument s architect.

dedication

on evening of april 14, 1868, lincoln statue moved flannery s studio city hall. covered statue guarded police no 1 see before dedication ceremony following day. on april 15, of city s offices closed @ noon , flags flown @ half-staff. estimated 20,000 people, around 20% of washington s population, attended dedication. dignitaries @ dedication included president andrew johnson, general ulysses s. grant, general william tecumseh sherman, , general winfield scott hancock. supreme court justices , members of congress not in attendance because johnson s impeachment trial taking place. masonic ceremony, along music , prayers, took place @ dedication before main speech major general benjamin brown french. following speech, washington mayor richard wallach introduced johnson, uncovered statue. crowd cheered, followed more music , benediction.

removal , rededications

the memorial being dismantled in 1919

in 1919, memorial dismantled , placed in storage during renovations of city hall. of city s residents , officials didn t want memorial reinstalled when renovations complete since larger , grander lincoln memorial under construction. others thought tall pedestal unsafe. when public heard of plans leave monument in storage, many upset , groups such grand army of republic demanded statue reinstalled. president warren g. harding lobbied congress on behalf of angry citizens. government officials conceded, point, statue missing. later found in crates behind bureau of engraving , printing , cleaned. on june 21, 1922, act of congress authorized rededication, took place april 15, 1923, 55 years after initial dedication. when statue replaced, set on new shorter base instead of original column. unexpected consequence of vandals having easy access statue. lincoln s fingers broken off several times , right hand had replaced.

in 2006, memorial moved when renovations once again took place on old city hall, home district of columbia court of appeals. statue restored , cleaned before being returned when renovations completed in 2009. on april 15, 2009, 144 years after original dedication, memorial rededicated second time. statue country s oldest extant memorial lincoln. 1 of 6 statues in public places in washington, d.c. honoring slain president.