Lincoln Memorial

The National Mall in Washington D.C. is basically America's front yard, which sort of makes this monument a, albeit somber and respected, garden gnome. The imposing structure, with its Greek architectural columns, houses a 19-foot white marble statue of the nation’s 16th president. There he is immortalized, seated and majestically overlooking a beautiful reflecting pool and a distant Washington Monument. Perhaps the most memorable facet of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial is certainly a prominent factor in making the mall, according to the Park Service, the country's most visited national park.

Unlike every presidential candidate we have seen for decades, President Lincoln was born in poverty and self-educated. Overcoming obstacles was his tour de force. He became a successful lawyer and eventually one of the best and most respected U.S. presidents. Lincoln ended the Civil War and united the country at a time when it was even more bitterly divided than it is today. Imagine that. Assassinated by a southern separatist sympathizer, his iconic image is a permanent fixture in America's sense of justice and moral fabric, as well as on our money ($5), and in this emotionally moving memorial on the National Mall.

The pool Honest Abe overlooks, modeled after a similar structure at France's Palace at Versailles, was rebuilt in 2012 with an eye toward conservation and greater sustainability. This refurbishing corrected serious water leaks and re-covered the bottom of the pool for greater reflectivity. The serenity and beauty of the scene looking down the mall in either direction is inspiring, to say the least. But looking up at Mr. Lincoln after sunset when the statue is back-lighted from within is one of the most inspirational scenes in the country.

The memorial was dedicated in 1922, 57 years after the president's assassination. Today it is the focal point for ceremonies and special events year round. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech from its steps, and the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom concluded there.