Is There an Abraham Lincoln Statue in King County?
Credit: Daniel Chester French
Most Seattle residents think Lincoln Park in West Seattle has a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The name implies a straightforward homage, but no monument to the 16th president exists anywhere in King County. This often catches visitors off guard, who anticipate a monument to be equivalent to the historic name of the park.
The truth is that King County itself bears the association. Initially named after William Rufus DeVane King, the county’s eponym was formally renamed in 1986 to commemorate Abraham Lincoln in tribute to his national heritage and to the values he embodied. In making that choice, the area becomes attached to Lincoln in a special sense, even absent a statue within its parks or public spaces.
For the person who wants to experience Lincoln memorials within Washington State, there are some outside of King County. There is a significant statue on the grounds of the University of Washington in Seattle, and others are located in cities such as Spokane and Tacoma. These provide a more historical tribute through sculpture and memorial exhibits.
Knowing where Lincoln monuments are placed, and why King County decided to commemorate him by naming itself after him, provides a key to understanding how the area recalls one of America’s greatest leaders despite the lack of a statue.
The Common Misconception
Most first-time tourists to Seattle think Lincoln Park in West Seattle has a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The name itself gives that impression, particularly because public parks in the United States tend to have monuments or memorials related to their namesakes. Tourists occasionally show up hoping to view a bronze representation of the 16th president standing in front of the park’s picturesque views of Puget Sound. Instead, they discover open trails, beaches, and playfields, but not a monument to Lincoln himself.
The confusion is not just for visitors. Online discussion boards, travel blogs, and even mapping websites sometimes perpetuate the assumption. Search results for “Lincoln statue Seattle” tend to show Lincoln Park, and readers will presume that there is a sculpture hidden somewhere within the park’s 135 acres. This becomes a cycle where expectation fuels misinformation.
The reality is straightforward. Lincoln Park was not, in fact, named after Abraham Lincoln. Its namesake is a different individual from early Seattle civic history. Through time, however, the coincidence between the park’s name and the president has been lost in public consciousness. Without any context-providing signs at the park, there remains the belief that a statue must exist.
Abraham Lincoln Monuments in Washington State
Washington State has a modest but significant presence of monuments and memorials dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. The most prominent Lincoln monument in the state is the Spokane Lincoln Statue, a remarkable bronze sculpture that stands as a testament to Lincoln’s legacy and the state’s historic ties to the Civil War era.
The Spokane Lincoln Statue is located in downtown Spokane, at the corner of Monroe Street and Main Avenue. It was commissioned by the Lincoln Memorial Association of Spokane and was unveiled on Armistice Day in 1930, drawing a crowd of over 40,000 people. The statue was created by Seattle sculptor Alonzo Victor Lewis, a University of Washington professor and artist known for public heroic art. The bronze statue itself is 12 feet tall and rests on a ten-foot base. Uniquely, it portrays Abraham Lincoln in his role as commander-in-chief of the Union Armies, a depiction said to be the only one of its kind.
The statue’s clothes are based on those Lincoln wore at his assassination, adding a poignant historical detail. The $25,000 project took eight years of fundraising involving Spokane citizens and organizations, including patriotic groups like the Grand Army of the Republic and schoolchildren contributing small donations. The statue was intended to honor Civil War veterans and serve as a focal point for Veterans Day commemorations in Spokane. Over the years, it has been a site for notable events, including speeches by Senator John F. Kennedy and civil rights marches.
Besides the Spokane statue, Abraham Lincoln’s legacy in Washington State is commemorated in various other ways through the names of schools, parks, and streets across the state. However, a notable point is that there are no Lincoln monuments or statues situated in King County, which encompasses Seattle and its immediate suburbs.
So, while the Spokane Lincoln Statue stands as the centerpiece of Lincoln monuments in Washington State, several other references to Abraham Lincoln exist in educational and community spaces statewide, highlighting his enduring legacy without significant representation in the populous King County. This reflects a localized yet respectful commemoration of one of America’s most iconic presidents within the state.
King County’s Link to Abraham Lincoln
King County, Washington, originally bore a name unrelated to Abraham Lincoln. Established by the Oregon Territory legislature on December 22, 1852, the county was initially named in honor of William Rufus King, who had just been elected Vice President of the United States alongside President Franklin Pierce. King was a notable political figure from Alabama and the only bachelor to be elected Vice President, although he died shortly after taking office. This original naming reflected political alliances at that time rather than a direct connection to Abraham Lincoln or his legacy.
However, in 1986, a significant symbolic change occurred when the King County Council passed a motion to officially rename King County in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the eminent civil rights leader. This renaming carried deep meaning within the broader context of civil rights movements and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America during the late 20th century. The decision was emblematic of the county’s commitment to acknowledging the importance of Dr. King’s vision and legacy. The renaming was officially codified by state law in 2005, solidifying its adoption in all formal references to the county.
The irony in King County’s link to Abraham Lincoln lies in the fact that while the county honors an iconic figure tied closely to freedom and civil rights by name, it does not have any statues or monuments dedicated to Abraham Lincoln himself within its borders. This absence is notable given Lincoln’s vital role in the abolition of slavery and preservation of the Union principles deeply connected to the civil rights struggles that Martin Luther King Jr. championed. Despite this, the symbolic power of the county’s name continues to serve as a reminder of the ideals both leaders represented.
In summary, King County’s name reflects more of a dedication to civil rights as exemplified by Dr. King than a direct homage to Abraham Lincoln. The historical background of its original naming after Vice President William R. King adds complexity to the county’s identity, and the absence of Lincoln monuments in the county highlights an interesting contrast between symbolic honor and physical commemoration.
Lincoln Park in Seattle — What It Really Offers?
Lincoln Park, situated in West Seattle, is a large 135-acre public park full of natural charm and community significance. The site, once called Fauntleroy Park, was purchased by the city in 1922 after it was suggested by the famous Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm. It was then renamed Lincoln Park after President Abraham Lincoln. Unlike more traditional memorials or monuments, the design and creation of the park have emphasized maintaining the natural setting and offering recreational activities above all else, instead of honoring Lincoln through monuments.
The park contains a wide range of natural and recreational features that draw visitors from all over the city. It has large areas of walking and hiking trails, wooded land, and rocky shoreline along Puget Sound with great wildlife viewing and outdoor recreation opportunities. One of its main attractions is the saltwater Colman Pool, a vintage outdoor pool constructed in 1941, a gift as a memorial but mostly used as a community swim area. The park further provides picnic spots, playgrounds, tennis courts, and a waterside promenade, making it an adaptable piece of land for families and individuals in search of leisure and nature.
Lincoln Park is an important community place in West Seattle. It serves as a green oasis in the midst of the city, offering local residents a natural setting for exercise, social activities, and cultural events like outdoor theatrical performances. The park’s natural forest preserves and shoreline habitat enhance the region’s ecological well-being by providing habitat for native vegetation and animals, giving its recreational purpose educational value.
Notably, even though the name implies so, Lincoln Park doesn’t have a statue or monument honoring Abraham Lincoln. Nature and recreation are the basis of the identity of the park and not historical or monumental representation. That is typically explained to help avoid confusion and highlight that Lincoln Park is a community and environmental resource and not a site for Lincoln memorials.
In short, Seattle’s Lincoln Park symbolically pays homage to Abraham Lincoln by name but provides the public with a variety of natural environments, paths, beaches, and recreational community facilities instead of a historic landmark. It is still a valued open space dedicated to nature and recreation within the West Seattle community.
Should King County Have an Abraham Lincoln Statue?
King County, Washington, bears a name that is directly linked to great figures of history, yet surprisingly, it does not have an Abraham Lincoln monument. It was initially named in honor of Vice President William R. King but is commonly symbolically linked to Lincoln because of its subsequent renaming connection with equality and civil rights. This gap between the symbolic title of Lincoln county and the fact that there is no statue of Lincoln is an argument for the installation of a monument for him in the county.
Supporters of the placement of an Abraham Lincoln statue in King County explain that a monument would be a useful cultural and educational resource. A statue might emphasize Lincoln’s place in the history of the United States as unifier and emancipator, offering residents and tourists alike a physical connection to these essential values. Moreover, it might add to local heritage by ensuring a greater appreciation of the county’s namesake and possibly boost tourism by offering a landmark honoring a figure admired across the nation. It would provide a center for reflection and celebration, particularly on commemorative events tied to civil rights and American history.
Conversely, others argue that King County pays homage to Lincoln’s legacy differently through modern policies, social values, and civil rights efforts instead of the usual statuary. The identity of the county and social advancement might be better expressed in dynamic community efforts towards equality and justice than in static memorials. This other way of celebrating acts more upon the living legacy of Lincoln’s ideals than commemorative symbolism.
Ultimately, this conversation challenges residents and readers to consider how to best commemorate legacies. Should King County build a statue as a lasting monument to Abraham Lincoln’s lasting impact? Or is the county’s continued dedication to creating civil rights and inclusion a stronger and more timely tribute? This is an inquiry that enters into a larger conversation about how communities decide to remember and live up to the principles of guiding figures like Lincoln.
Finally, although the lack of an Abraham Lincoln statue in King County is palpable, whether or not to install one is a matter of weighing heritage, education, tourism, and modern community values, encouraging serious consideration and discussion.
Many people assume that Lincoln Park or another public space in Seattle must house a statue of Abraham Lincoln. The reality is that no such monument exists in King County. The park’s name and online references have fueled the misconception, but the connection is only in name, not in sculpture.
What King County does have is a deeper symbolic link. In 1986, the county officially changed its namesake from William Rufus DeVane King to Abraham Lincoln. That decision ensured the region would carry Lincoln’s legacy in a lasting way, not through a single statue, but through its very identity. Every mention of King County, from government records to daily life, reflects that choice to honor him.
Monuments provide visible reminders of history, and Lincoln statues in Spokane, Tacoma, and other parts of Washington State serve that role. Yet legacy is not only measured in stone or bronze. In King County, Lincoln’s name continues to shape civic memory and community identity. That enduring presence shows that honoring a leader can take many forms, some less visible, but no less meaningful.
