The Lincoln Watermelon Monument

Category: Quick Stops

Lincoln, Illinois, is the only town to be named for and by Abraham Lincoln before he became president of the United States. The next time you’re in Lincoln, relive a bit of Central Illinois history by stopping at the spot where Abe christened his namesake town.

After serving in Congress, in 1849 Mr. Lincoln returned to private law practice. Before entering politics again in 1854, he served as the attorney for the Chicago and Alton railroad, which was constructed about a mile east of Postville (part of modern-day Lincoln). After he assisted with the platting of a new town at the site of the railroad, Mr. Lincoln reluctantly agreed to have the town named after him. The first lots were sold on August 27, 1853, and Abe was present that day for its christening.

“Nothing with the name of Lincoln has ever amounted to much,” he reportedly joked at the event. Then he proceeded to pick up a ripe watermelon from a nearby wagon, broke it open, and squeezed the juice on the ground of the town that would forever bear his name.

Today, a life-size watermelon statue and sign commemorates the event in a small park on Broadway in downtown Lincoln, right next to the Amtrak station.

As President-Elect, Mr. Lincoln returned to speak at the same spot on November 21, 1860. And on May 3, 1865—a somber day for Central Illinois—Lincoln’s funeral train stopped at the station before reaching its final destination of Springfield.

Learn more about Lincoln’s time in his namesake town here.

Tags: Lincoln | Abraham Lincoln | Watermelon Statue | Postville |

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