Sunday, February 20, 2011

Lincoln Memorial Monument, Wyoming



For this President's Day holiday, I thought it would be nice to show a special memorial dedicated to the sixteenth president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. This memorial was made to commemorate Lincoln's150th birthday and is located on a section of Interstate Highway 80 in the state of Wyoming.  My husband and I traveled on I-80, which is also known as the Lincoln Highway, during a trip we took to the beautiful state of Wyoming to see Yellowstone National Park, among other sights. (Click on this link  "Wyoming" to see more about this trip).


(All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them once, and then clicking on them again when they open on a new page)

The original Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental 3,500-mile automobile route to connect New York City with San Francisco, California. Much of the original Lincoln Highway evolved into US 30 in the 1920s and Interstate 80 in the 1950s. The entire history of the Lincoln Highway can be read on this Federal Highway history link. You can double-click to enlarge the photo above to read about Henry Bourne Joy, the first present of the Lincoln Highway Association in 1913. Joy, also president of the Packard Motor Car Company, is sometimes called the father of the nation’s modern highway system. Joy said that his effort to create the Lincoln Highway was his greatest accomplishment.


(Double click to enlarge photo)

The Lincoln Highway Historic Monument lies 10 miles SE of Laramie, on exit 323 on Interstate 80 at the edge of Summit Rest Area. It marks the highest point on Interstate 80, with an elevation of 8,640 feet. This historic monument was designed and created in 1959 by Robert Russin, who was an art professor at the University of Wyoming. The bronze bust of Lincoln's head is thirteen-and-a-half feet tall on top of a thirty-five-foot tall base, composed of Wyoming granite. The head of Lincoln was cast in 30 pieces and is bolted together much like the inside of the Statue of Liberty. It is the only monument to Abraham Lincoln along the Lincoln Highway and is the largest bronze head sculpture of him in the U.S.  Originally the Lincoln Memorial Monument was located about a half mile west at Sherman Hill on the original Lincoln Highway, but was moved to this location in 1969 when Interstate 80 opened.



Taking a road trip to Wyoming was a thrilling experience for my husband and me as we passed the most spectacular scenery along the way. Come back Wednesday and I'll show you a magnificent view of the Snowy Range of the Medicine Bow Mountains.

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57 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Pat, you have sure been busy. Each of your blogs is fascinating. I am not as perky as I was but am getting my strength back. I had been following the terrific weather in New York. Some winter, eh.
QMM

Claudia said...

I remember this from our trip to Yellowstone eons ago. How wonderful to revisit it through your amazing eyes.

Donnie said...

What lovely scenery you saw. Great photos.

RoeH said...

Good Heavens. As many times as I have driven/ridden that highway, I don't ever remember seeing that monument. Maybe I was looking out the other side. Maybe I was talking. Maybe I was reading a book.

Texting! Yeah...that must have been it.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Beautiful tribute to a great President, Pat... I liked it much better when we celebrated their 'official' birthdays...

Hugs,
Betsy

From Beyond My Kitchen Window said...

A lot different from N.Y. but still impressive. Sounds and looks like you had a fantastic trip.

Lynn said...

An impressive monument! Looks like you had an interesting trip Pat:@)

Carol said...

It's a beautiful part of the country! Breathtaking shots, Pat!
Wonderful tribute, the monument is very impressive!

Ginny Hartzler said...

What fascinating facts about the Lincoln head! It looks like a one piece sculpture, I never would have guesses it has all those pieces! And how very large it is!! Hope you have a great holiday!

Michelle said...

I love taking "trips" here. Gorgeous photos.

Anonymous said...

Don and I never made it to Utah...the closest we got was the Grand Canyon...enjoyed learning about Lincoln! Thanks so much for sharing!

Pondside said...

That must have been a wonderful trip. I'd love to take a road trip through that part of your country - so much to see!

podso said...

Great mosaic/topic for President's weekend...Lincoln one of my favorites, having been born and raised in the land of Lincoln!

Snap said...

Pat, wonderful post for Presidents Day. Wyoming!!!!! All that SKY!!!! Always fun to travel with you!

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Amazing! You always have such wonderful pictures to share!! Wyoming does indeed have some wide-open-spaces! Wishing you well! Cathy

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

An impressive monument of Lincoln and interesting history.

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

I have never heard of this monument Pat. Thanks for sharing! My grandparents used to live in Cheyenne, Wyoming and I spent many summers with them, but they never took me to see this. I guess it is in a different part of the state. Wyoming does have gorgeous scenery! Love & blessings from NC!

Vee said...

Thank you for sharing another wonderful Memorial, Pat. That foundation is so interesting for Lincoln's head to rest upon. I like your new header, too!

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Quite a different vista than the one from New York City isn't it but beautiful nevertheless.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your photos always make me want to travel! We love to DRIVE and Wyoming is on our list of places we've never been! Beautiful photos and mosaic! ♥

Sheila said...

I'm looking forward to seeing more of the sights you saw. Thank goodness you don't leave home without a camera!

Willow said...

Beautiful photo of the Wyoming landscape, Pat!

GailO said...

That first photo is a little scary isn't it! Love the scenery of Wyoming and hope that I get a chance to take a road trip someday...What a great idea for a post:)

annie said...

Never knew it was there. I learn something everytime I come here.

The Gathering Place said...

I am a girl of the West and I never knew that there was a Lincoln Memorial there. I guess I need to take a summer vacation to Yellowstone! (Of course, I do enter from the Idaho side!)

Kris said...

You are quite a historian!!! I love it! You commented on my oranges. We are very fortunate indeed. We live on a one acre orange grove. The houses were custom built, each on an existing grove. We have mostly naval oranges, but a few lemon, 6 avocado, several grapefruit, etc. We took our summer fruits out when we put a sport court in a few years back. I miss my peaches, plums, and apricots!!

Ola said...

wow, the scenery you captured on one of the pictures is absolutely breathtaking!

Sarah said...

Beautiful photos, Pat. Most of our family vacations when I was a child were spent in Colorado and Wyoming. Beautiful country! ~ Sarah

Old Kitty said...

What a monument!! I love it's history - how the sculpture was completed hurriedly but lovingly and with great skill!!! Wonderful!

Wyoming looks gorgeous - the scenery alone is stunning. The world Wyoming is interesting too though. Makes me want to discover why it was called that!

Happy President's Day!!! Thanks for another fabulously informative and colourful post!! Take care
x

Mary said...

What spectacular scenery! I've never been to that part of the country and but would love to! Your photos are stunning as always :-)

Tanna said...

Thank you for the President's Day road trip!! Wyoming is on my bucket list.

Mary said...

I have never been farther west than PA. What gorgeous scenery! And you are always such a wonderful history teacher, Pat, Thanks for the lessons! :)

Tracy said...

Wonderful tribute to a great President! I didn't know about this Lincoln memorial in Wyoming before. I learn so much visiting here, Pat! :o) Happy Week, my friend ((HUGS))

From the Kitchen said...

I'm headed to Rt. 30 very shortly. And, I can be on I-80 within 30 minutes if the traffic is with me! Did you and your husband drive from NYC to Wyoming? It's a trip that I would love to take but am having trouble convincing my husband that it could be a good idea.

Best,
Bonnie

Barbara F. said...

I love "visiting" so many wonderful places through your blog! Your photographs are always top-notch. xo, Barbara F.

Gracie said...

WOW what a spectacular view....

Joyce said...

Impressive monument. Thanks for sharing as I never knew this existed.
Joyce

Lorrie said...

Great photos and a wonderful bit of history.

SmilingSally said...

Interesting post.

Happy Blue Monday, Pat.

Chubskulit Rose said...

Very pretty!

My Blue Monday post, have a nice week!

Anonymous said...

Hey Pat, great photo's, I love to travel with you and the hubby, yall sure do travel to some wonderful places, but don't get me wrong, I really enjoy the NYC post the most,hehe.
I would love to get out to Yellowstone too!
~Jo
LazyonLoblolly

Lovella ♥ said...

Okay ..here is a place I've gone. A few years ago we hopped on our motorbike and drove out to Sturgis and camped (we did that the whole way) in Yellowstone park.
We enjoyed the beautiful scenery there but I'm trying to place exactly where that monument was. It is not close to the mountain where all the presidents are on?

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Stunning pictures.

Yvette said...

I was in Wyoming once for about a day back in the 60's. I thought I'd finally get to see a cowboy in real life. Never did. So my memory of Wyoming is colored by this bit of disappointment.

But it is a gorgeous place. Wide open spaces is an understatement. It is breathtaking in scope.

Judy said...

What a timely post for today! You found a treasure that we missed as we passed through Wyoming a few years ago. We really enjoyed our time there.

La said...

Hi Pat!

What an unusual monument. I have never been to Wyoming. In fact, while reading your post it occurred to me that I haven't seen many pictures of Wyoming either. How bad is that?

We're getting slammed with a winter storm this evening. YUCK!

Have a great week! La

genie said...

What a fabulous post....loved the shots and the information you gave me was totally new. It was all so interesting. One is never too old to learn something new. Lincoln’s eyes are really piercing in that first shot.

Unknown said...

Very informative! I haven't been to this part of the country yet!

I love your post below about Letters to Juliet! And especially love the picture of you! You haven't changed much at all...still just as pretty!

Unknown said...

Tks for this wonderful post Pat, I enjoyed reading this and all your other adventures too. Sorry, have been so slow in blog land..busy as usual. One day I hope I'll go to New York, my 2nd daughter dreams of living in the US one day...must be all those songs and movies she's so into :)

Regina said...

Beautiful scenes! Thank you for sharing Pat.

" Regina "

Anonymous said...

Nice one...

Your newest follower,
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diane b said...

That is an amazing monument and fabulous view. I can't wait to get there. You must be getting excited too.

Rossel said...

beautiful place! thanks for sharing.
The Park Bench

H said...

Until you gave us the dimensions, I was imagining this bronze head to be lifesized! (I didn't enlarge the phots til I had finished reading, but then saw the steps of course!)

That is rather a long highway! If they tried to build something like that over here, they'd fall off at both ends. (It would fit the UK top to bottom and back and back and back and halfway down again!)

Unknown said...

Pat, what beautiful photographs. I have never been to Wyoming, and it certainly looks like a wonderful place. Glad that you had such a wonderful trip.

Karen

Lisa@GrandmasBriefs said...

Such beautiful country and right in my front yard (north of me). I need to get there. I've seen bits and pieces on a pass-thru home from Seattle once, but have always intended to get back there. You've strengthened that intention.

Have a lovely day, Pat!

steviewren said...

The Lincoln monument is really interesting. I like the way you see his head resting atop the stones in your close-up photo, but how in the long distance picture the stones take on the appearance of his suit.