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All the United States Iowa Council Bluffs Lincoln Monument of Council Bluffs

Lincoln Monument of Council Bluffs

An obelisk commemorating Lincoln's role in connecting the coasts.

Council Bluffs, Iowa

Added By
Andy Manhart
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The Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs.   Americasroof/CC BY-SA 2.5
The Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs.   Americasroof/CC BY-SA 2.5
The Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs.   Map Data © 2017 Google
The Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs.   Map Data © 2017 Google
the plaque   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
Looking west   Schweg / Atlas Obscura User
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About

With a longtime interest in building a transcontinental railroad, Lincoln sought out Grenville Mellen Dodge while visiting Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1859. He knew Dodge had extensively surveyed west of the Missouri River, and at a meeting in the Pacific Hotel he asked the railroad engineer about the best route to the Pacific. Dodge recommended the Platte Valley route based on experience, and Lincoln took his word as gospel.

A year later, Lincoln was elected president, and three years after that, Lincoln signed an executive order that officially designated Council Bluffs the eastern terminus for the rail line linking east and west.

Dodge would go on to distinguish himself during the U.S. Civil War, initially commanding the Fourth Iowa Infantry, rising through the ranks from captain to general. When the war ended in 1865, Dodge returned to Council Bluffs and eventually took a job as surveyor and chief engineer of the Union Pacific Railroad.

The first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869, fulfilling Lincoln’s vision and forever transforming North America and shaping U.S. history into the 20th century and beyond.

In 1911, to commemorate Lincoln’s crucial 1859 visit, the stone obelisk was erected on the spot where Lincoln stood, looking west across the Missouri River Valley and dreaming of a transcontinental railroad.

Related Tags

Railroads Abraham Lincoln Transportation Trains Surveyors Monuments

Know Before You Go

The Lincoln Monument in Council Bluffs, IA is accesssible to the public located just west of Fairview Cemetery at the western end of Lafayette Avenue.

Community Contributors

Added By

manharta

Edited By

Schweg, Michael Inscoe

  • Schweg
  • Michael Inscoe

Published

August 28, 2017

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grenville_M._Dodge
  • http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/lincoln-visited-c-b-in/article_558e3a80-ba37-507b-b130-4f6753910a59.html
  • http://www.councilbluffs-ia.gov/276/Lincoln-Monument
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Missouri_River_Bridge
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln,_Nebraska
  • http://www.omaha.com/living/the-true-story-behind-the-black-angel-of-council-bluffs/article_440a1d50-77ba-5b7e-9c52-40462510c759.html
Lincoln Monument of Council Bluffs
Lafayette Avenue
Council Bluffs, Iowa
United States
41.267991, -95.85282
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Nearby Places

Pottawattamie Squirrel Cage Jail

Council Bluffs, Iowa

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs

Iowa

Places 3

Nearby Places

Pottawattamie Squirrel Cage Jail

Council Bluffs, Iowa

miles away

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Council Bluffs, Iowa

miles away

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Council Bluffs

Council Bluffs

Iowa

Places 3

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