Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
The ‘Old Secretariat’ government building in New Delhi.
The 'Old Secretariat'
This set is inspired by a Roman arena.
Bozdağ Film Platolari
The Sea Water Distilling Plant.
Sea Water Distilling Plant
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Wortley built the wooden backpack she used while retracing Alexandra David-Néel’s journey from a chair she found on the street in London.
How Elise Wortley Climbed Mont Blanc in 1830s Women’s Attire
30 days ago
Simplicity is key: Just a slice of bread with a sprinkling of salt and pepper is the perfect accompaniment.
The Sweet Second Life of Creole Cream Cheese
30 days ago
My rendition of frog legs, popping mushroom curry, pad prik khing with salted egg yolk, and sweet khanom thuai.
Recreating My Favorite Meal From Thailand
30 days ago
Inside London’s Gorgeously Curated ‘Art Restaurants’
30 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Illinois Ashmore World's Tallest Lincoln Statue
World's Tallest Lincoln Statue is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

World's Tallest Lincoln Statue

This abandoned Abraham Lincoln statue has also earned the honorary of "World's Ugliest."

Ashmore, Illinois

Added By
TaunyaD
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Lincoln is visible from far away.   dfbm/CC BY 2.0
Lincoln is visible from far away.   dfbm/CC BY 2.0
The World’s Tallest Lincoln.   TaunyaD / Atlas Obscura User
Lincoln at the entrance to Lincoln Gardens.   TaunyaD / Atlas Obscura User
A regular-sized girl at the feet of the tallest Lincoln.   TaunyaD / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the "Land of Lincoln" stands one of the world's tallest Lincoln statues. He stands at an impressive 72 feet tall, towering over nearby trees and buildings. 

While Abraham Lincoln was a tall, thin man in life, this representation of him is particularly skinny, apparently so his manufacturer didn't have to transport a wide load when the statue was shipped from Minnesota. The statue has earned the title of "World's Tallest and Ugliest Lincoln."

Perhaps because of this derision, the statue has been the subject of much vandalism over the years. He is riddled with bullet holes, and his extended index finger has been blown off several times.

The statue was dedicated for the surrounding park in 1969, but the developers soon ran out of money and the park project was abandoned. The park and the Lincoln statue have been renovated and repurposed several times. First, it was as Spring Haven campgrounds, then as the Lincoln Springs Resort, both of which closed. Most recently the park was "Lincoln Gardens," where numerous chainsaw-hewn sculptures depicting the 16th president at different points throughout his life stood scattered around the tallest of them all.

Update May, 2017: The area is gated with no access. The place is for sale now, so access is cut off. You can still see the statue from afar, but not close up. Good 'ole Abe is really off the beaten path. While rounding a corner on the old County Road 2000 E, you can see his large head peeking over the hill.

Related Tags

Abraham Lincoln Presidents American Presidents History Statues Sculptures Sculpture Gardens Art World's Tallest

Community Contributors

Added By

TaunyaD

Edited By

Molly McBride Jacobson, doptroutman

  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • doptroutman

Published

January 6, 2017

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.sillyamerica.com/blog/2008/02/worlds-tallest-abraham-lincoln-statue/
  • http://www.thekidsthinkiamnuts.com/2010/03/worlds-largest-lincoln-statue.html
  • http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11367
  • http://www.yesterland.com/lincolnland.html
World's Tallest Lincoln Statue
9699 County Rd 2000 E
Ashmore, Illinois
United States
39.517031, -88.105955
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Airtight Bridge

Charleston, Illinois

miles away

St. Omer Cemetery Witch Grave

Ashmore, Illinois

miles away

Illinois’ Original Burger King

Mattoon, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ashmore

Ashmore

Illinois

Places 2

Nearby Places

Airtight Bridge

Charleston, Illinois

miles away

St. Omer Cemetery Witch Grave

Ashmore, Illinois

miles away

Illinois’ Original Burger King

Mattoon, Illinois

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Ashmore

Ashmore

Illinois

Places 2

Related Places

  • Lincoln overlooking the town of Wabash, IN

    Wabash, Indiana

    The Lincoln Monument

    Abraham Lincoln never visited Wabash, but his statue found a home there.

  • Knislinge, Sweden

    'Fideicommissum'

    A bronze, peeing self-portrait protests unequal inheritance rights.

  • A bronze fast of a female face atop a pedestal with a lighthouse in the background

    New York, New York

    Girl Puzzle Monument

    An art installation commemorates journalist Nellie Bly's undercover reporting inside a New York asylum.

  • Cincinnati, Ohio

    Statue of Abraham Lincoln at Lytle Park

    One of the few beardless depictions of Lincoln, George Grey Barnard's 1917 statue was denounced by many—including Lincoln's own son.

  • The pond at Shisa park.

    Ishigaki, Japan

    Yonekoyaki Craft Center Shisa Park

    Along the side of the road on a small Japanese island is an extensive garden of uniquely designed Shisa statues.

  • Hahn/Cock at the Walker Art Center.

    Minneapolis, Minnesota

    Hahn/Cock

    One of two giant blue cockerel statues erected with an intentional double meaning.

  • Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs.

    Venice, Italy

    Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs

    This Roman statue is missing a limb from when the Venetians stole it from Constantinople during the Crusades.

  • The Komodo dragon statue.

    Tallahassee, Florida

    McCord Park's Komodo Dragon

    Though it's unclear why it's there, the lifelike sculpture of the giant lizard is oddly charming.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.