Lincoln City, Oregon: Abraham Lincoln Reads on a Horse

Big parking lot for parking our truck and trailer. Abe seems to look at you.

The statue was sculpted by Anna Hyatt Huntington and given to Lincoln City on the condition that the town never change its name. According to a plaque at its base, Lincoln was offered the governorship of the Oregon Territory in 1849, but turned it down and returned to his law practice. He would tour the circuit from town to town, and along the way he would read books while riding his horse.

And no, it is not the same as texting while driving.

Lincoln City is actually five smaller coast towns that combined in the 1950s. Instead of naming the new town after one of the old towns, a new name was voted on. The school children of the area chose Surfland, but local fuddy duddy adults didn't like the name. Instead they decided to name it after Abraham Lincoln, who was offered the job of Oregon's territorial governor in 1849. He decided to run for President instead. In hindsight, I guess that was a good idea!

The statue of Abe Lincoln reading on a horse is 15 feet tall and was given to the city on the condition that it always face west. Good Old Honest Abe is sitting on a horse reading a book. Is that like texting and driving?