Wax Lincoln Statue Melts During Record-Breaking DC Heat Wave Outside Garrison Elementary

A six-foot wax statue of Abraham Lincoln, created by artist Sandy Williams IV, melted outside Garrison Elementary School in Washington, D.C., due to record-breaking heat waves, with temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The statue, part of The Wax Monument Series, was designed to comment on Civil War-era history and American monument culture and was intended to withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the extreme heat caused the statue to collapse, with Lincoln's head and limbs melting first. Williams hopes this incident will highlight the urgent issue of climate change. The melted sculpture has sparked widespread attention and humor on social media. Previously, the statue had melted during its initial installation in September due to the premature lighting of its wicks.