Abraham Lincoln's wax statue melts amid record-breaking US heat, sparking online reactions

The summer heatwave sweeping across the United States has claimed an unusual victim: a 6-foot wax statue of former President Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C. 

Positioned outside Garrison Elementary School as part of The Wax Monument Series, the statue succumbed to the extreme temperatures, melting dramatically. According to a report by BBC, the statue's head was the first to detach, followed by one of its legs, while a foot turned into a puddle, and the chair appeared to sink into the ground.

Located at the Lincoln Memorial, a historic site on the grounds of Camp Barker, a Civil War-era refugee camp that housed formerly enslaved and freed African Americans, the statue has faced melting issues before. 

In September last year, during its initial installation, premature lighting of the 100 wicks atop the statue melted a significant portion of it ahead of the dedication ceremony. The statue was repaired and reinstalled in February.

This melting incident has once again drawn attention, with netizens sharing their reactions to the viral photos. According to the New York Times, some online commentators joked that Lincoln's melted visage appeared as though he was reacting to an annoying work email or sinking into a couch after a long day.

Online reactions to Lincoln's melting statue

Social media reactions to the incident were swift and humorous. 

Maybe a wax Lincoln sculpture wasn’t the best idea during DC’s first week of summer heat pic.twitter.com/qfp0lIGFWo

— Kirk A. Bado (@kirk_bado) June 23, 2024

POV me on my couch every evening between the kid's bed time and mine https://t.co/xkoKCtco2C

— Tait Sougstad (@TSougstad) June 25, 2024

how your email finds me https://t.co/ZAIy4lZWoM

— Spencer Allan Brooks (@SpencerSays) June 25, 2024

A 6 foot-tall wax statue of #AbrahamLincoln began to melt in the sweltering heat of Washington DC over the weekend and lost its head. pic.twitter.com/akbBQ5zzSD

— NOISE ALERTS (@NoiseAlerts) June 26, 2024

Me after spending 10 mins in garden.#abrahamlincoln pic.twitter.com/fuyp9Dba8U

— Kana Sir🕉️ (@Kanatunga) June 26, 2024

WE CAN NOT WITH THIS HEAT EITHER, LINCOLN
Our project, “40 ACRES: Camp Barker” by Sandy Williams IV has gone viral (for innocent reasons and some not so innocent ones). Read the articles for yourself: https://t.co/NfRc0CaLQI
Check out our website for updates. #waxlincoln pic.twitter.com/688QcBUAj2

— Cultural_DC (@Cultural_DC) June 25, 2024

Virginia-based artist Sandy Williams IV, who created the statue using paraffin wax, explained that the material can withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Williams stated, "I previously had joked that when our climate gets bad enough to where we are living in an environment where the ambient heat melts these sculptures, that’s when this work becomes an environmental artwork. I didn’t know that was going to be this summer." She also hoped the viral memes would bring more attention to her artwork.

Williams' sculpture is part of two series: 40 ACRES Archive, which explores forgotten Black histories in the United States, and Wax Monuments, which contrasts the permanence of marble statues with the fragility of wax.

Heatwave sets records across the US

The melting of Lincoln's statue highlights the record-breaking heatwave affecting millions across the United States. More than 100 million people were under heat warnings as cities on the East Coast braced for unprecedented temperatures due to a 'heat dome' spreading to the West Coast. 

Also Read: Scotland's ancient stone circles were built to defend from aliens, claims paranormal investigator

Climate change continues to drive these extreme conditions, with research indicating that dangerous weather patterns will persist for decades.

Representational Image

New York City opened emergency cooling centers in libraries, senior centers, and other facilities. Although city schools remained open, some suburban districts sent students home early. Arizona's Phoenix faced an excessive heat warning with temperatures forecasted to reach 114 degrees Fahrenheit.

Also Read: This mysterious stone building discovered in Greece is at least 4,000 years old

Globally, extreme heat has caused hundreds of deaths across Asia and Europe. Over 1,000 people died during the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca amid this year's intense heat. The European Union's climate monitoring service reported that the past 12 months have been the warmest on record in year-on-year comparisons.

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