Statue of President Abraham Lincoln at Tredegar

WHAT: Statue of President Abraham Lincoln in Richmond, Virginia.

LOCATION: Richmond National Battlefield Park Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works.

ARTIST: David Frech.

DEDICATION: April 3, 2003.

DESCRIPTION: The life-size bronze statue depicts Lincoln and his 12-year-old son, Tad, sitting on a bench during their historic visit to Richmond on April 4 and 5 1865 to tour the burned-out Confederate Capitol.

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On his visit to Richmond, Lincoln visited the White House of the Confederacy and Capitol Square, but little of his visit was recorded. He apparently never visited burned-out Tredegar Iron Works, but his statue is very worthwhile visit. There is a marker at the site with the following description:

Lincoln lived long enough to articulate his post-war vision. In his concise and powerful second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, the president delivered this now-famous passage: “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right…let us strive to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds…to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves, and with all nations.”

Lincoln had only three conditions for the Confederacy: complete end to the war; abolition of slavery; and restoration of the national authority, and his words were “Let ’em up easy.”