Young Abe Lincoln

Young Abe Lincoln is a bronze sculpture outside the Indiana Statehouse that depicts Abraham Lincoln as a young man standing barefoot and holding a book in his left hand. The figure stands at about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and weighs roughly 1500 pounds (680 kilograms).

The sculpture was created in 1962 by artist David K. Rubins and honors the years Lincoln spent in Indiana as a young man before becoming the sixteenth president. His time in this region as a teenager shaped his character and outlook.

The statue shows Lincoln as a young man in simple clothing with a book, symbolizing his formative years in frontier conditions. Visitors today see it as a reminder of how education matters when life is difficult.

The sculpture sits on the grounds of the Indiana Government Center near West Washington Street and is easily accessible on foot from downtown. The location is open to the public and you can walk around the statue freely.

The creation of this work involved a special three-dimensional pantograph machine used to build a wooden framework for the sculpture. The final form was then cast in bronze using the lost-wax casting technique.

Location: Indianapolis

Inception: 1962

Creator: David K. Rubins

GPS coordinates: 39.76854,-86.16518

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:11