When Daniel Chester French received the commission for the
statue in 1909, he ranked as one of America's leading sculptors. He collaborated
with architect Henry Bacon to provide the statue's setting. French and
Bacon are most famous for their work on the Lincoln Memorial
in Washington, D.C. The Gettysburg Address is carved into the granite
backdrop, and Lincoln is depicted as just having finished that memorable speech.
During the statue dedication on September 2, 1912, Nebraska orator
William Jennings Bryan spoke to a crowd of thousands.French Statue in Lincoln, Nebraska
At the west entrance of the Nebraska State Capitol, you'll see this bronze
memorial statue, authorized by the Nebraska Legislature. The legislature created
the Lincoln Centennial Memorial Association on April 12,
1903, providing state funds to help pay for the memorial.