The roadside Lincoln: From hero to hometown superstar

Every summer, travelers passing through Jefferson, Iowa, can't help but stop and admire a life-size bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln. This Lincoln statue, built by W. Granville Hastings and gifted to the community by Mr. and Mrs. E.B. Wilson, who had no children, was the first to grace the Lincoln Highway. Standing 7 feet tall on a base with a pebblestone lower part and a top coated with 2 inches of granite, the statue showcases Lincoln's quiet strength and determination with the engraved second inaugural address on the upper portion.

Initially planned to stand atop a pink granite base from Pipestone, MN, the plan was abandoned due to World War I. The statue was temporarily installed on a Des Moines granite base in 1918, with the permanent base being built in 1964. Today, the statue stands tall in Jefferson, Iowa, a testament to the people who wanted to honor the 16th President and, as the first statue built beside the Lincoln Highway, a beacon drawing in travelers even now. It stands for the power of art, the importance of giving, and the journey that makes this statue more than just a monument – it's a roadside attraction worth the stop.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons