Sunlight on the Lincoln Memorial highlights not just the ornate detail of the monument, but the variety of material used to construct it. Architect Henry Bacon made sure to use granite, marble, and limestone sourced from states throughout the country. At the time of Lincoln’s presidency, there were only 36 states in the Union, so all 36 of those states’ names are what’s carved into the frieze directly above the columns. Now that we’ve given you a little bump of patriotic pride, remember that it’s Election Day. Did you vote?
A truly American monument
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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International Nurses Day
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A narrow passage
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Happy Boxing Day!
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Assembling the Smithsonian
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Pont Rouge
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A bridge that rocks
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I ll call for pen and ink…
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It’s Napping Day
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Boxing Day in East Yorkshire, England
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Hispanic Heritage Month
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Sundance Film Festival opens in Park City
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Honoring some real heroes of World War II
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Winter in the Finnish wilds
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Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York
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Helloooooo, Innsbruck
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Into the woods
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A medieval Moorish gem
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China s colorful terraced pools
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Making it work—in Norway
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Best fronds forever
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Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
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Lionfish off the coast of Indonesia
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Mount Pico, Portugal
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Giant kelp in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
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Homeward bound
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Chestnut-eared aracari in the Pantanal, Brazil
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Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia
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Keep shining
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Seventeen arches at sunset
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Cheers! It’s National Wine Day