What Is the Lincoln Monument?
This stone obelisk marks the spot where Abraham Lincoln looked out west on his visit to Council Bluffs in 1859!
What Makes It Historical?
Abraham Lincoln didn’t set foot west of the Mississippi very often, so each time he did was worth noting! Before he was president, he came to Council Bluffs as part of a survey team and met with Grenville Dodge to scope out the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad! He would be a big supporter of the Transcontinental Railroad during his presidency, though he sadly wouldn’t live long enough to see it completed ten years after his first visit to Iowa.
In 1911, the Council Bluffs chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution set up this monument on a bluff known as “Mount Lincoln” to commemorate the visit. Art Deco in design, it originally had a surrounding wall and light fixtures, but those were replaced during renovations in the 1950s and ’60s! This monument is part of the Nationally Registered Lincoln/Fairview district, which combines the Lincoln visit with the historic Fairview Cemetery!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Historical Society of Pottawatomie County!
- Donate to the Historical Society of Pottawatomie County!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
Lafayette Ave, 233 feet west of Oakland Avenue
Council Bluffs, IA 51503
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!