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Install Standing Lincoln Sculpture Outdoors at Saint-Gaudens NHS
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park » Install Standing Lincoln Sculpture Outdoors at Saint-Gaudens NHS » Document List
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site, New Hampshire's only national park. Located in Cornish, the park preserves the home, studios, and gardens of American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907). As part of the park's anniversary, a monumental bronze cast of Augustus Saint-Gaudens's sculpture Abraham Lincoln: The Man (also known as the Standing Lincoln), will find a permanent home in Cornish, New Hampshire, at Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. The Standing Lincoln will be the first new sculptural addition to the park's landscape since the Shaw Memorial bronze was unveiled in 1997.
In 1885, Saint-Gaudens began working on modeling a monument of Abraham Lincoln to be placed in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Saint-Gaudens's friend and attorney, Charles Beaman, enticed the artist to come to Cornish to work on the piece, promising that the area had "many Lincoln-shaped men" that the artist could use as models. The Standing Lincoln became the first monument Saint-Gaudens would complete in Cornish. Robert Todd Lincoln, the president's son, remarked that Saint-Gaudens's monument was the very best of the many Lincoln likenesses he had ever seen.
Because of its quality as well as its subject, the monument has been recast several times, usually for diplomatic purposes. In 1920, a cast was presented to Great Britain and placed in Parliament Square. In 1964, as a symbol of Mexican and American friendship, President Lyndon Johnson presented a copy of the statue to Mexico where it was placed in Parque Lincoln in Mexico City. President Johnson would sign the legislation creating Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site at around the same time. A smaller bust from the Standing Lincoln was presented to Johnson at the same time; Saint-Gaudens's bust of Lincoln can be seen in many Oval Office photos of presidents since that time.
The park is still in the planning phase on technical elements of the project. Presently, the public has an opportunity to provide their ideas on where the monument should be sited on the park's landscape. People interested in leaving their feedback may share their thoughts via this website through March 2.
In 1885, Saint-Gaudens began working on modeling a monument of Abraham Lincoln to be placed in Lincoln Park, Chicago. Saint-Gaudens's friend and attorney, Charles Beaman, enticed the artist to come to Cornish to work on the piece, promising that the area had "many Lincoln-shaped men" that the artist could use as models. The Standing Lincoln became the first monument Saint-Gaudens would complete in Cornish. Robert Todd Lincoln, the president's son, remarked that Saint-Gaudens's monument was the very best of the many Lincoln likenesses he had ever seen.
Because of its quality as well as its subject, the monument has been recast several times, usually for diplomatic purposes. In 1920, a cast was presented to Great Britain and placed in Parliament Square. In 1964, as a symbol of Mexican and American friendship, President Lyndon Johnson presented a copy of the statue to Mexico where it was placed in Parque Lincoln in Mexico City. President Johnson would sign the legislation creating Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site at around the same time. A smaller bust from the Standing Lincoln was presented to Johnson at the same time; Saint-Gaudens's bust of Lincoln can be seen in many Oval Office photos of presidents since that time.
The park is still in the planning phase on technical elements of the project. Presently, the public has an opportunity to provide their ideas on where the monument should be sited on the park's landscape. People interested in leaving their feedback may share their thoughts via this website through March 2.