City of Portland to return Lincoln to original plinth

In this article

Today, the Office of Mayor Keith Wilson announced next steps for the Abraham Lincoln sculpture that was toppled on October 11, 2020. This statue is one of six monuments being restored as a part of the Portland Monuments Project. Following a multi-year engagement process with Portlanders, restoration experts, artists and historians, Mayor Wilson has decided to return the sculpture of Abrahm Lincoln to its original base and location in the South Park Blocks. The announcement follows months of public debate, including requests to return the bronze sculpture to its original plinth.

"I ran for Mayor to repair, restore, and revitalize our city. Now that Portland's longstanding statue of President Abraham Lincoln has been repaired, it is time to restore it to its original pedestal as a proud piece of our citywide revitalization," said Mayor Keith Wilson. "I ask that we reflect on the fact that the statue of President Lincoln came down not in an act of togetherness and self-examination, but in a moment of unilateral, senseless harm. I've listened to our community: healing that wound requires prioritizing restoration above other goals. Reinterpretation, however earnest and well-founded by national experts, should never be forced by an act of destruction alone. I am deeply grateful to the Office of Arts & Culture for navigating this difficult and important moment."

Cast in France on Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1927, the City of Portland's ten-foot bronze sculpture was created by George Fite Waters and commissioned by Dr. Henry Waldo Coe. It depicts President Lincoln at the time of the Gettysburg Address. When the monument was toppled in 2020, its bronze base was significantly damaged. During conservation in 2025, additional cracks and stress fractures were discovered, and one weakened section fractured while being straightened, requiring a revised treatment approach and delay in reinstallation.

"I want to thank every voice who joined this conversation to help the City make its decision with regards to the Lincoln monument," said Deputy City Administrator for Community & Economic Development Donnie Oliveira. "As we move forward in restoring Lincoln and finalizing plans to restore other Portland monuments in the coming years, we will continue to bolster our community engagement strategies - incorporating lessons learned through this process."

What's Next for Lincoln?

Conservation and repairs were completed August 2025. The monument is currently being prepared for reinstallation in the South Park Blocks with the addition of new interpretive signage featuring a QR code where visitors can learn more about Lincoln and the history of this monument. The original plinth will be seismically updated, as well as the pinning mechanism for the sculpture. The installation is currently planned for Spring 2027.