A six-foot-tall wax statue of American leader Abraham Lincoln began to melt in the sweltering heat of Washington DC over the weekend, ultimately losing its head. The statue, a replica of the Lincoln Memorial, experienced significant damage with its head detaching, legs separating from the torso, and the right foot melting by Monday, according to reports.
The wax statue, created by US-based artist Sandy Williams IV, was installed outdoors on the campus of an elementary school in Northwest Washington in February of this year. Placed outside the school as part of an artistic installation, the white wax statue was intended to remain there until September.
CulturalDC, the non-profit organization that commissioned the statue, reported, “Our staff has purposely removed Lincoln’s head to prevent it from falling and breaking.” They added, “This 3,000 lb wax sculpture is intended to be burnt like a candle and to change over time, but this wild heat has done a number on Abraham Lincoln.”
The congealing point of the wax used in the Abraham Lincoln statue is 140 degrees, a threshold easily surpassed in the current heatwave affecting Washington DC and other parts of the United States.
The installation, titled “40 ACRES: Camp Barker,” was designed to be a temporary exhibit that would evolve with the elements. However, the extreme heat caused by the ongoing heatwave has accelerated the melting process.
Several parts of the US are currently experiencing extreme temperatures, with weather forecasters warning residents in the central and eastern regions to prepare for ongoing hot streaks this month. The heatwave has led to a series of advisories and precautions as temperatures soar, affecting daily life and outdoor installations such as the Lincoln statue.
The melting of the Lincoln wax statue serves as a stark reminder of the intense heat impacting various regions and the importance of preparing for and mitigating the effects of such extreme weather conditions.