Lincoln Watermelon Monument
Lincoln, Illinois
"The only city ever named for Abraham Lincoln with his personal consent" sports this downtown monument in the shape of a life-size, 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 with melon juice. In agreeing to lend his name to this place, Honest Abe quipped: "I never knew anything named Lincoln that amounted to much."
The watermelon slice, certainly the most obscure Lincoln monument we've ever seen, was erected in 1964 by the combined efforts of Lincoln's Kiwanis, Rotary, and Lions clubs.
Lincoln Watermelon Monument
- Address:
- Broadway, Lincoln, IL [Show Map]
- 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 in front of Lincoln Depot Restaurant at the railroad tracks, corner of Broadway and Chicago.
Nearby Offbeat Places
- Giant Lincoln on Covered Wagon, Lincoln, IL - 1 mi.
- Muffler Man Holding Hot Dog, Atlanta, IL - 10 mi.
- Smiley Face Water Tower, Atlanta, IL - 11 mi.
- In the region: Uniroyal Gal, Peoria, IL - 39 mi.
