Ashmore, Illinois: World's Largest Lincoln

Local Powers That Be raised and spent a lot of money to have the statue built. Originally it was supposed to be located on or near the courthouse square in Charleston. However, when they saw the statue for the first time, they were so appalled and disappointed by its poor quality and tacky appearance that they decided instead to relegate it to a cornfield east of town.

Teenagers and EIU students used to love to hold beer-kegger parties at his feet. Many a young Coles County resident later used Abe's finger for target practice, which is what happened to the finger. After enough successful target practices, there just wasn't much left of it any more.

When the statue was relocated to Lincoln Springs Resort and refurbished, the workers mistakenly put the finger on backwards (and still a little too much to the center, if you ask me). Because of the difficulty and expense of removing and repositioning the newly misplaced finger, they decided to just paint a new fake fingernail on the (now) front side (which used to be the back). If you look carefully you can see another fingernail on the back (used to be front) of the middle or pointer finger.

I wanted to update you, as a resident of Charleston, IL. The Abe Lincoln was given a facelift because it will be the centerpiece of a new campground called Lincoln Springs Resort, which will open some time in 2007. I find it amusing because it is so very tacky. Further, the statue is actually known about town as the "50 Foot Lincoln" (although I believe it is 70 ft.).

I lived in Charleston Illinois from 1964 to 1969. The World's Largest and Ugliest Lincoln Statue was never erected downtown as one of the posts suggests. One of my childhood friends' fathers was associated with the construction of the statue and would periodically drive us out to the site to check on its progress.

When the statue was officially unveiled, my family and I went out to see it and we were quite disappointed, even at my tender young age of 9 years old. My sisters and I thought it more closely resembled "Dr. Zachary Smith" actor Jonathan Harris from TV's "Lost in Space"

The world's tallest and ugliest statue of our tallest and ugliest President (some would say) is still quite tall, but has received a face-lift since your hypertour]. Abe has had some of the spots, wrinkles, and chunks removed and a fresh coat of paint. Not to mention a new finger on his upraised fist. When first visiting the statue earlier this year I had expected an unsightly Lincoln, only to be shocked at his new look. Have a look yourself...

Re: World's Ugliest Lincoln statue in Charleston Illinois. I cannot say this for 100%, but the story about him losing his finger due to lightning isn't true. I got to EIU, and I have heard the same story time and time again from several credible sources (not just drunk frat guys). Anyway, the common belief around Charleston is that somome managed to climb to the top of the statue and cut his finger off. Then they moved it so he was flipping off the highway. The city of Charleston became outraged, so they just took it off .