Lincoln Memorial Centennial Day

The Lincoln Group of DC, with co-sponsorship by the National Park Service and The Lincoln Forum, is celebrating the Centennial of the Lincoln Memorial with a dramatic re-dedication. The dedication in 1922 was not without controversy. Eager for reconciliation between North and South, Chief Justice William Howard Taft and President Warren G. Harding emphasized, as does the Lincoln Memorial design, Lincoln’s role in reuniting the nation. Robert Lincoln joined them but did not speak. The only African American participant, Dr. Robert Moton of the Tuskegee Institute, had his speech sanitized in accordance with Jim Crow-era segregation sensibilities. But over the next 100 years, the Memorial increasingly became a symbol of civil rights as African American contralto Marian Anderson sang there in 1939, Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech there in 1963 (the 100th anniversary of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation), and Barack Obama featured it in his inauguration as the first African American president.

The program will include historical presentations by Lincoln and Memorial experts Harold Holzer and Dr. Edna Greene Medford. The keynote presentation will be given by current Tuskegee University president, Dr. Charlotte P. Morris, who will speak on the program’s theme: Building on Lincoln’s Vision of Unity and Equality. There will be musical performances by the United States Marine Band Brass Quintet and award-winning theater actress and singer Felicia Curry (My Lord, What a Night; The Color Purple), singing from Marian Anderson’s 1939 song list. Award-winning actor Stephen Lang (Avatar, Gettysburg, Gods and Generals), will recite from Edwin Markham’s poem, Lincoln: Man of the People, and from the two Abraham Lincoln speeches engraved into the walls of the Memorial. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and NPS Director Charles Sams III are also expected to give remarks. Dr. Sarah Johnson of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (Lincoln’s Church) will give the invocation. 

This event is open to everyone at no charge. Bring your friends!  Please RSVP so that we can estimate Lincoln Group representation as we show leadership in honoring the great 16th president of the United States!

Donations of any amount are welcome now to help cover the costs of this star-studded event. Use the “Donate” button at the top of the page and specify “Special Events” or send a check to the address at the bottom of the Donate page.

Follow this website’s news section for more details as we near the date.  Lincoln Memorial photo credit, Bruce Guthrie.