Skip to Main Content

Lincoln Watermelon Monument.

Lincoln Watermelon Monument

Field review by the editors.

Lincoln, Illinois

The only town ever named for Abraham Lincoln while he was still alive sports this downtown monument in the shape of a two-foot-long ear-to-ear watermelon slice. It commemorates the day in 1853 when the future 16th President, who was then just an Illinois lawyer, christened his namesake community by slicing open a melon and pouring its juice onto the ground. In agreeing to lend his name to this place, Abe reportedly said, "I never knew anything named Lincoln that amounted to much."

The watermelon slice, made of painted steel, is among the more obscure Lincoln monument we've ever seen. It was erected in 1964 by the combined efforts of Lincoln's Kiwanis, Rotary, and Lions clubs.

Roadside Presidents
Roadside Presidents App for iPhone. Find this attraction and more: museums, birthplaces, graves of the Chief Execs, first ladies, pets, assassins and wannabes. Prez bios and oddball trivia. Available on the App Store.

Also see: Gallery: Watermelon Monument | America's Loopiest Lincoln Landmarks

Lincoln Watermelon Monument

Address:
101 N. Chicago St., Lincoln, IL
Directions:
I-55 exit 126 onto Hwy 10, right at 2nd light, left at next light onto 5th St. This bends to the left and changes to Logan - stay on it. Make quick right onto Broadway. Monument is on the north side of Broadway St. between N. Chicago St. and the train tracks.
Save to My Sights

Nearby Offbeat Places

Phone Booth on a RoofPhone Booth on a Roof, Lincoln, IL - < 1 mi.
Tiny ChurchTiny Church, Lincoln, IL - < 1 mi.
Honest Abe CourthouseHonest Abe Courthouse, Lincoln, IL - < 1 mi.
In the region:
Quonset-Hut-Style Church, East Peoria, IL - 38 mi.

More Quirky Attractions in Illinois

Stories, reports and tips on tourist attractions and odd sights in Illinois.

Explore Thousands of Unique Roadside Landmarks!

Strange and amusing destinations in the US and Canada are our specialty. Start here.
Use RoadsideAmerica.com's Attraction Maps to plan your next road trip.

My Sights

My Sights on Roadside America

Create and Save Your Own Crazy Road Trip! ...Try My Sights

Mobile Apps

Roadside America app: iPhone, iPad Roadside America app for iPhone, iPad. On-route maps, 1,000s of photos, special research targets! ...More

Roadside Presidents app: iPhone, iPad Roadside Presidents app for iPhone, iPad. POTUS landmarks, oddities. ...More

Illinois Latest Tips and Stories

Latest Visitor Tips

Sight of the Week

Sight of the Week

JFK's World Famous Twine Ball, Highland, Wisconsin (Mar 18-24, 2024)

SotW Archive

USA and Canada Tips and Stories

More Sightings