#5: The Lincoln Memorial
Constructed as a tribute to honor President Lincoln after his assassination in 1865, it took over 60 years from conception to unveiling the Lincoln Memorial in 1922, symbolizing national reverence and remembrance. Although the Lincoln Memorial’s dedication aimed to celebrate unity across the nation, the 1922 event exposed prevailing societal divisions, with noticeable racial segregation among attendees, overshadowing the intended message of equality.
Today, the Lincoln Memorial is a symbol for civil justice movements, famously hosting Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech and attracting around 6 million visitors annually. The Lincoln Memorial not only commemorates the ‘Savior of the Union’ through the inscriptions of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address but also serves as an essential venue for protests and public speeches, honoring its rich historical legacy.