Lincoln Memorial for Kids | Learn about the history and legacy of this monument

What is a memorial? In Lincoln Memorial for Kids, your students will learn the history surrounding this famous structure. Memorials or monuments (like statues) represent something unique to everyone who sees them. Monuments have meaning and significance to the people who visit them. Although there are thousands of monuments across the United States, many of the most famous monuments are in our nation’s capital—Washington, DC.Show more

One of the most famous monuments in the US is the Lincoln Memorial. Abraham Lincoln is a true American success story. He was the son of a poor farmer who lived on the frontier. He read books that he borrowed after long days working on the farm. But eventually, in 1837, Lincoln worked hard enough to earn a law degree. In 1846, he was elected to the House of Representatives. His calm demeanor and willingness to compromise helped heal the war-torn nation and reunite the North and South into one country. Unfortunately, Lincoln was assassinated in April of 1865, in the middle of his second presidential term.

Congress began work to create a memorial to remember his patriotism two years after his death. In March of 1867, Congress created a commission to design and build the memorial. It would be another 43 years—1910—before Congress would pass a bill that allowed work to begin on the Lincoln Memorial! It took another 12 years to complete the project from the day of the design and construction. In 1922, President Harding and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Robert Taft officially accepted the memorial on behalf of the American people.

Ironically, although many African Americans were invited and attended the event, they were moved to a segregated area near the monument. The very people Lincoln had fought so strongly to free still faced racial discrimination nearly 60 years after the Civil War ended in 1865.