He kept a cool head during the American Civil War, but a heatwave proved too much for his statue. A wax effigy of President Abraham Lincoln has melted as temperatures soared over the weekend in the nation's capital.
The head went first, then one of his legs dripped off its torso and a foot turned into a blob. The chair sank into the ground.
The head from the 6ft wax sculpture of the Lincoln Memorial is now under repair, leaving behind a wire sticking out of the 16th president's neck.
The memorial rests on the site of Camp Barker in Washington DC - a Civil War-era refugee camp that housed formerly enslaved and freed African Americans - now home to an elementary school.
It was placed outside of Garrison Elementary School as part of The Wax Monument Series by Virginia-based artist Sandy Williams IV.
The replica is more than just a wax statue - it is also a candle. And this is not the first time it had issues with melting.
The statue was installed at the same location last September, but the first version of the wax monument included over 100 wicks that were prematurely lit, melting a significant portion of the art installation ahead of its dedication ceremony.
The new version installed in February has strategically placed (and fewer) wicks. A plaque below reads: "Please blow out your wick within 1-2 minutes."
The installation is a "direct commentary on DC's history of Civil War-era Contraband Camps", according to its website.
The replica, commissioned by non-profit CulturalDC, is the third installation of Williams' 40 ACRES Archive - The Wax Monument series which includes wax replicas of popular public monuments and cultural symbols.
The DC-metro area was under a heat alert over the weekend. High temperatures are expected to continue throughout this week.
Latest Stories
-
Ghanaians in Lebanon asked to evacuate amid rising crisis
5 hours -
Nana Kwame Bediako unveils Maryam Issaka Kriese as Running Mate
5 hours -
How a stale A$17.50 cookie sparked a social media storm
8 hours -
Catholic Church to lead protest walk against galamsey on Oct. 11
8 hours -
87% of petroleum sector players cite foreign currency acqisition as biggest challenge in meeting payment obligations – Report
9 hours -
Organised Labour, our only hope for the voiceless in the Galamsey fight (Part II)
9 hours -
GPL 2024/25: Hearts held at home against Aduana
10 hours -
Lands Ministry receives petition from #FreeTheCitizens protestors
10 hours -
Vision Foundation make medical donation to Manhean Polyclinic
11 hours -
Gen Z highlife singer Yaw Darling making waves with hit single
12 hours -
Organised labour can’t call off intended strike if demand isn’t met – Labour expert
12 hours -
MTN Ghana unveils tailored services for oil and gas sector at Local Content Conference
12 hours -
Ghana’s Economic recovery a major reason for our return- Virgin Atlantic Airlines
12 hours -
Eric Atta-Sonno: Preserving the beach fronts of Cape Coast: A reflection on our values
12 hours -
Small-scale miners seek engagements with gov’t, organised labor on measures to deal with illegal mining
12 hours