The Lincoln Memorial houses a 19-foot marble statue of Abraham Lincoln. It was built to honor the 16th President of the United States for his great accomplishment, especially in freeing slaves in the country.

The Lincoln Memorial’s design was based on a Greek temple. There were only 36 states at the time of Lincoln’s death represented by the 36 columns surrounding the monument. However, after its completion in May 1922, 12 more states were added to the Union. To have these represented as well, the additional states’ names were engraved on the outside walls of the memorial. A plaque was added with the names of Alaska and Hawaii when they became part of the US territories.

On the inside walls, one can find Lincoln’s famous words (The government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the Earth) from his Gettysburg Address wherein he asked for the country to unite.