The Lincoln Memorial Shrine in Redlands, California is a memorial and research center dedicated to the memory of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

, 16th President of the United States of America. Opened on February 12, 1932, by local philanthropist Robert Watchorn as a monument to his deceased and only son, Emory Ewart Watchorn. The memorial is located at 125 West Vine Street behind the A. K. Smiley Public Library, adjacent the

Redlands Bowl The Redlands Bowl is an amphitheatre in Redlands, California, USA, founded in 1924. It is used for music and theatrical performances which are offered to the public at no charge. The existing structure was commissioned and built by Florence and ...

and within Smiley Park Historic District. Opened daily from 1PM to 5PM. Except Mondays and majors holidays when its closed. The largest memorabilia collection, memorial and research center dedicated to Abraham Lincoln on the west coast of the United States. Entrance is free.

History

Robert Watchorn agreed to donated $60,000 on May 6, 1931, for the city to construct the Memorial Shrine, with a pledge by the city to upkeep the museum. The Memorial Shrine was dedicated by the Watchorn family for their only adult surviving son, Emory Watchorn, who died at the age of twenty-five in 1921 due to complications from service as an open-air cockpit pilot in WWI. Years after his death, the Watchorns decided to build the memorial at their winter home in Redlands. A tribute to Lincoln, as Robert and Emory shared a mutual interest in the life of President Lincoln. Designed by

Elmer Grey Elmer Grey, FAIA (April 29, 1872 – November 14, 1963) was an American architect and artist based in Pasadena, California. Grey designed many noted landmarks in Southern California, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Huntington Art Gall ...

and interior murals created by

Dean Cornwell Dean may refer to: People * Dean (given name) * Dean (surname), a surname of Anglo-Saxon English origin * Dean (South Korean singer), a stage name for singer Kwon Hyuk * Dean Delannoit, a Belgian singer most known by the mononym Dean Titles * ...

. Designed in an octagonal shape. Whatchorn also donated a bust of Lincoln by

George Grey Barnard George Grey Barnard (May 24, 1863 – April 24, 1938), often written George Gray Barnard, was an American sculptor who trained in Paris. He is especially noted for his heroic sized '' Struggle of the Two Natures in Man'' at the Metropolitan Museu ...

he acquired in 1922. The Watchorn Lincoln Memorial Association was created. The association along with the city's A.K. Smiley public library hold that pledge to upkeep. They host the Lincoln Dinner Sponsorship fund. The association conducts a dinner as a fundraising event for the Memorial Shrine. The dinner is held at the Orton Center at the

University of Redlands The University of Redlands is a private university headquartered in Redlands, California. The university's main, residential campus is situated on 160 acres (65 ha) near downtown Redlands. An additional eight regional locations throughout Califo ...

yearly. The Memorial Shrine was expanded with two wings in 1998. Tripled the size of museum space. The Memorial Shrine obtained the Watchorn Family Collection papers and portraits in September 2008 for $108,000. Obtains letter and books from the time Watchorn was an immigration commissioner at Ellis Island from 1905 to 1909. The current curator is Nathan Gonzalez.

Norman Rockwell Norman Percevel Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978) was an American painter and illustrator. His works have a broad popular appeal in the United States for their reflection of Culture of the United States, the country's culture. Roc ...

donated his painting to the memorial shrine in 1945. The Lincoln themed work entitled ''Thoughts on Peace on Lincoln’s Birthday'', is displayed in the west wing of the museum. During boy scout week, since 1940, several local

Boy Scouts Boy Scouts may refer to: * Boy Scout, a participant in the Boy Scout Movement. * Scouting, also known as the Boy Scout Movement. * An organisation in the Scouting Movement, although many of these organizations also have female members. There are ...

and Girl Scouts troops march to the Memorial Shrine in honor of Lincoln. Parade is held on

Lincoln's Birthday Lincoln's Birthday is a legal, public holiday in some U.S. states, observed on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville (Hodgensville, Hodgen's Mill), Kentucky.Cal. Gov. Code �6700(c) Connecticut, Illinois, ...

yearly and ends with

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

re-enactors and various civil war displays.

Gallery

File:Lincoln Bust by George Bernard in Redlands.jpg, Lincoln bust by

File:Thoughts on Peace on Lincoln's Birthday by Norman Rockwell.jpg,

Painting File:East Wing at Lincoln Memorial Shrine.jpg, East Wing of Shrine dedicated to the US Civil War

External links

Official Site

References

{{Abraham Lincoln Redlands, California History of Redlands, California Buildings and structures in Redlands, California Monuments and memorials to Abraham Lincoln in the United States Buildings and structures completed in 1932