Melting Abraham Lincoln Wax Statue Loses Its Head in Washington Heatwave
In an unexpected turn of events, a wax statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington, D.C., became a literal casualty of extreme heat. As temperatures soared into the triple digits, the wax statue, part of an art installation by Sandy Williams IV, began to soften. Eventually, the head of the replica was removed to prevent further damage. The statue, intended to evolve over time, melted far sooner than expected, sparking both concern and amusement online as photos circulated of Lincoln’s "meltdown.
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The wax sculpture, titled “40 Acres: Camp Barker,” was designed to slowly deteriorate like a candle over time. However, the intense heatwave that hit Washington in late June 2024 accelerated the process. Onlookers witnessed Lincoln’s head and limbs soften and slump due to the unbearable temperatures, leading officials to step in and carefully remove the statue’s head to prevent it from breaking. CulturalDC, the organization behind the installation, shared a statement, saying the melting was part of the piece’s design but acknowledged that the weather had sped up the process dramatically.
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