The Lincoln at 100

The Lincoln Memorial is central to the cultural, political, tourist, and recreational life of D.C. It’s just reached its 100th anniversary, serving as the site of many historic events along with daily crowds. Here are some of the things we’ve seen over the last few years:

Major events

2020 commemoration of the 1963 March on Washington:

©Victoria Pickering
©Miki Jourdan

Commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 9/11, with a performance of Come From Away (the musical about Newfoundland welcoming stranded passengers on flights during that day).

©Angela N.

2021 March for Voting Rights:

©Miki Jourdan

Veterans and Military

Honor Flights is a program giving veterans a day of honor at the memorials.

©Miki Jourdan
©Miki Jourdan
©Angela N.

The Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performing at the memorial:

Marine Corps Silent Drill Team demonstration. ©Victoria Pickering

Rallies and Protests

For Ukraine

©Rob Klug
©Miki Jourdan

Black Lives Matter

©Angela N.
©Rob Klug
©Rob Klug
©Victoria Pickering
©Miki Jourdan
©Rob Klug
©Victoria Pickering

Muslim travel bans

©Angela N.
©Miki Jourdan

2020 Election

©Rob Klug

Scaffolding

Scaffolding is frequently erected on the plaza to broadcast events.

©Rob Klug

Preparations for the 2017 Inauguration:

©Victoria Pickering

Exhibits and demonstrations

U.S. Honor Quilt for COVID, October 2020:

©Victoria Pickering

Statues of Presidential dogs on President’s Day 2022:

©Angela N.

The space shuttle Discovery making a ceremonial pass over the Lincoln Memorial in 2012:

TV and films

Filming of The Handmaid’s Tale:

©Miki Jourdan
Elizabeth Moss, star of The Handmaid’s Tale. ©Miki Jourdan

Filming of Rustin, an upcoming movie about Bayard Rustin who organized the 1963 March on Washington.

©Victoria Pickering

In addition to major productions, many smaller videos on social justice issues are made at the Lincoln, such as this one:

©Victoria Pickering

At Sunset

©Angela N.
©Angela N.

In the winter

©Angela N.
©Angela N.
©Victoria Pickering
Reflecting Pool partially frozen. ©Victoria Pickering

Dancing

©Angela N.
©Rob Klug

The Reflecting Pool

People are not supposed to enter the Reflecting Pool, but sometimes do:

©Angela N.

It’s a constant struggle to keep the water clean, and the pool is periodically drained and refreshed.

©Rob Klug
©Victoria Pickering
©Angela N.

Private ceremonies

In between the events and the crowds, the side corridors of the Lincoln are frequently used for wedding and graduation photos:

©Rob Klug

Locals and tourists

The Lincoln Memorial and surrounding grounds are part of the National Park system, and are constantly visited by locals as well as tourists.

Patting a Park Service horse. ©Angela N.
©Miki Jourdan
©Miki Jourdan
©Rob Klug
©Rob Klug

Here’s to the Lincoln Memorial continuing to serve us as a symbol of hope over the next 100 years!

Wreaths on Lincoln’s birthday. ©Victoria Pickering

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