Emancipation Memorial

The Emancipation Memorial is a bronze sculpture in a park of the American capital, showing Abraham Lincoln beside a man with broken chains. The figures stand on a pedestal with inscriptions, surrounded by grass and trees.

Freed people collected donations for the monument, starting with a contribution shortly after Lincoln's death in 1865. The sculpture was unveiled in 1876, when many former slaves were still alive and attended the ceremony.

The monument takes its name from the act that freed enslaved people and now serves as a place for conversations about this period. Visitors often see different reactions, as the portrayal of the kneeling man continues to spark discussion.

The park sits between two main streets and is easy to reach on foot or by public transport. Panels beside the sculpture give information about the work and its creation.

The figure of the kneeling man carries the features of Archer Alexander, who in 1863 was the last person in Missouri pursued under an old law. He escaped and later lived as a free man in the city.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1876

Creator: Thomas Ball

Made from material: bronze

Part of: Civil War Monuments in Washington, D.C.

GPS coordinates: 38.88980,-76.99020

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:53