Springfield, Illinois: Junkyard Lincoln
Sculpted by Abbott Pattison, chosen by unanimous vote of the Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair committee, this statue was unveiled on Nov. 21, 1976. Its appearance was kept a secret until that moment -- for good reason. The eight-foot-tall bronze has a recognizable Lincoln head, but the rest of the body is made of bent, battered metal, as if it had been salvaged from a junkyard and simply welded into place. Lots of letter-writers hated the thing, but Pattison defended his Lincoln as "abstract," and it still stands.
- Address:
- E. Capitol Ave., Springfield, IL
- Directions:
- In front of the south entrance to the Lincoln Public Library, which is on the north side of E. Capitol Ave. between S. 7th and S. 8th Sts.
- Admission:
- Free
- RA Rates:
- Worth a Detour
Visitor Tips and News About Junkyard Lincoln
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Sculpted by Abbott Pattison and unveiled during the American Bicentennial in 1976. A unique interpretation of Abraham Lincoln and definitely the most abstract statue of the 16th President in Springfield, a town with several of them.
[Kurt Deion / kurtshistoricsites.com, 10/05/2024]
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Nearby Offbeat Places
Home of Abe Lincoln, Springfield, IL - < 1 mi.
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Green Elephant, Springfield, IL - < 1 mi.In the region:
Geographic Center of Illinois, Chestnut, IL - 30 mi.
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