The dream of a ridiculously huge Abraham Lincoln statue continues to enthrall the town of Lincoln, Illinois. We first reported in 2001 on the proposed 300+ ft. tall tribute to the 16th President and the town's namesake (the only town so named with Abe's permission).

Now the statue is designed to stand 305 ft. tall, depicting Lincoln on his 1853 visit to the town, when he christened it with watermelon juice. Up to this point, the town has seen fit to celebrate the historic moment with a pathetic cement watermelon slice on a small pedestal. Is the giant Lincoln an attempt to compensate for decades of neglect honoring the watermelon juice story? Whatever the motivation, the fiberglass and steel framework statue may cost $40 million dollars, augmented with a family theme park and other attractions.

2004 Update: Here's an artist's concept from Rev. S.M. Davis's Powerpoint Presentation of how the statue might appear. Lincoln is pouring juice on the ground while standing in front of a barrel supporting a watermelon. Visitors could walk up stairs in one leg, or ride an elevator up the other leg. [01/20/2004]

February 10, 2012