Lincoln’s wax sculpture melts in DC heat, pictures went viral

A public art installation in Washington DC became the center of social media attention as a six-foot-tall wax statue replicating the Lincoln Memorial began to melt dramatically after drastic heatwave hitting the region.

Photos of the melting statue quickly went viral, capturing the public's imagination. Photos showed Lincoln's head and right foot melting away, with one leg completely detached from the torso. Even the chair beneath the statue began to sink into the ground due to the heat.

The statue, titled "40 ACRES: Camp Barker," was installed at Garrison Elementary School in Northwest DC in February.

Created by Virginia-based artist Sandy Williams IV, the piece was meant to comment on American monument culture, with the wax medium allowing for physical changes over time.

Williams had explained that while traditional monuments are designed to remain unchanged, his work was intended to visualize change and keep a living record of activity.

However, as temperatures in Washington, DC, soared to 100°F (37.7°C), the statue underwent a more dramatic transformation than anticipated.

The wax used in the sculpture has a melting point of 140°F (60°C), making it vulnerable to the scorching conditions.

The CulturalDC organization, which commissioned the work, stated that the changes were part of the piece's design, noting that their staff had removed Lincoln's head to prevent it from falling and breaking. The extreme heat simply accelerated the sculpture's natural evolution.

Shared widely across social media, the images of the melting Lincoln sparked humorous reactions and comparisons, with many online users viewing it as a metaphor for a long, exhausting workday or dealing with frustrating obstacles.

The unexpected public response highlighted the unique power of public art to inspire diverse interpretations, according to Williams.