Lincoln Plaque, (sculpture).

Lincoln Plaque, (sculpture).

Stewart, Marie H., b. 1887, designer.

Schwarz, Rudolf, 1866-1912, sculptor.

Schum, Benno, fabricator.

Lincoln Plaque, (sculpture).

Cast 1907. Dedicated Feb. 12, 1907. Relocated Feb. 12, 1971.

Digital Reference:

Coated bronze plaque on a limestone base.

Plaque: approx. 65 x 37 x 1 1/3 in.; Base: approx. 89 x 54 x 39 in.

(Front of plaque, below relief of Lincoln:) HERE FEB 11 1861/ABRAHAM LINCOLN ON/HIS WAY TO WASHING-/TON TO ASSUME THE/PRESIDENCY IN AN AD-/DRESS SAID:"I APPEAL/TO YOU TO CONSTANT-/LY BEAR IN MIND THAT/NOT WITH POLITICIANS/NOT WITH PRESIDENTS/NOT WITH OFFICE-SEEK-/ERS BUT WITH YOU IS THE/QUESTION: SHALL THE/UNION AND SHALL THE LIB-/ERTIES OF THIS COUNTRY/BE PRESERVED TO THE/LATEST GENERATIONS?" unsigned

Rectangular plaque with a relief profile of a beardless Lincoln, his head in a medallion. Lincoln faces to the proper left. Two- thirds of the plaque is text; the upper one-third has the medallion in the center. To its proper right is a tree and log cabin; at the proper left is the Capitol. Beneath the medallion is a palm frond and shield. The plaque is set in a roughly-hewn limestone base. The southeast corner of the base is finished to resemble a Corinthian column.

Portrait male -- Lincoln, Abraham -- Head

Occupation -- Law -- Lawyer

Occupation -- Political -- President

Architecture -- Civic -- Capitol

Architecture -- Detail -- Column

Landscape -- Tree

Outdoor Sculpture -- Indiana -- Indianapolis

Administered by State of Indiana, Department of Administration, 402 West Washington Street, Indiana Government Center South, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202

Located 300 West Washington Street, South side of Washington & Missouri Streets on sidewalk, Indianapolis, Indiana

Formerly located Claypool Hotel, Illinois & Washington Streets, Northwest corner, Indianapolis, Indiana 1907-1968.

In 1906 the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce asked school children to designate a historical event that could be memorialized -- and the Lincoln visit on February 11, 1861 was their choice. The design submitted by a student named Marie Stewart was selected and Rudolph Schwartz cast the piece.

IAS files contain related articles from Indianapolis News dated Feb. 12, 1942; Feb. 6, 1970; and Feb. 21, 1971. The plaque was originally installed on the Claypool Hotel, which stood on the site of the historic Bates House. The plaque was relocated and rededicated Feb. 12, 1971, on a new base designed by Benno Schum. Subsequent construction of a new state government building, resulted in another removal and reinstallation at about the same site.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Indiana survey, 1992.

Indianapolis News, Feb. 12, 1942.

Indianapolis News, Feb. 6, 1970.

Indianapolis News, Feb. 21, 1971.

Indianapolis News, Feb. 12, 1942.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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