The Abraham Lincoln Statue in Lincoln Park: Chicago’s Tribute to a Thoughtful Leader
- 123gochicago
- Nov 3
- 2 min read
Long before Lincoln Park became Chicago’s most beloved green space, it was known as the “City Cemetery.” After the Civil War, the land was transformed and renamed in honor of the 16th president. In 1887, Chicago received a remarkable gift: a 12-foot bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln by artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Commissioned by Chicago businessman Eli Bates, the work was meant as a gift to the city — and it became one of the most admired sculptures in the country.
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Dublin in 1848 and raised in New York City, where he trained as a cameo cutter before studying sculpture in Paris and Rome. By the time he was in his thirties, he had become one of America’s leading sculptors, known for his ability to blend realism with emotion.
But his connection to Lincoln went deeper than admiration — it was personal memory.
As a teenager living in New York, Saint-Gaudens was in the crowd during Lincoln’s 1861 pre-inaugural visit to the city. He remembered watching Lincoln ride past, tall and solemn, on his way to deliver a speech. That brief encounter stayed with him all his life. Years later, when he was asked to create a sculpture of Lincoln for Chicago, he drew on that vivid memory — and countless photographs — to craft a figure that felt both grand and human.
Saint-Gaudens wanted Lincoln to appear as if he had just risen to speak: thoughtful, modest, and alive with quiet strength.
The finished statue, dedicated in 1887, shows Lincoln standing before a chair and desk, pausing for reflection. It quickly became a source of pride for Chicago — not just a memorial, but a work of art that felt deeply personal.
Standing on a granite base, the bronze Lincoln faces south toward the city he never lived to see rise, symbolizing how his legacy endures in Chicago’s heart. Today, the statue remains a must-see stop in Lincoln Park, especially in the soft light of morning or sunset. Visitors still pause to take in the details — the careful folds in the coat, the expressive hands, and that unmistakable sense of quiet contemplation.
Abraham Lincoln Statue
North Avenue & Dearborn Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
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For more hidden gems check out my book Chicago Beyond the Bean, available now. It’s filled with stories that take you beyond the typical tourist spots to explore the city’s most fascinating corners.
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