<P> The matter lay dormant until the start of the 20th century, when, under the leadership of Senator Shelby M. Cullom of Illinois, six separate bills were introduced in Congress for the incorporation of a new memorial commission . The first five bills, proposed in the years 1901, 1902, and 1908, met with defeat because of opposition from Speaker Joe Cannon . The sixth bill (Senate Bill 9449), introduced on December 13, 1910, passed . The Lincoln Memorial Commission had its first meeting the following year and U.S. President William H. Taft was chosen as the commission's president . Progress continued at a steady pace and by 1913 Congress had approved of the Commission's choice of design and location . </P> <P> There were questions regarding the commission's plan . Many thought that architect Henry Bacon's Greek temple design was far too ostentatious for a man of Lincoln's humble character . Instead they proposed a simple log cabin shrine . The site too did not go unopposed . The recently reclaimed land in West Potomac Park was seen by many to be either too swampy or too inaccessible . Other sites, such as Union Station, were put forth . The Commission stood firm in its recommendation, feeling that the Potomac Park location, situated on the Washington Monument - Capitol axis, overlooking the Potomac River and surrounded by open land, was ideal . Furthermore, the Potomac Park site had already been designated in the McMillan Plan of 1901 to be the location of a future monument comparable to that of the Washington Monument . </P> <P> With Congressional approval and a $300,000 allocation, the project got underway . On February 12, 1914, a dedication ceremony was conducted and the following month the actual construction began . Work progressed steadily according to schedule . Some changes were made to the plan . The statue of Lincoln, originally designed to be 10 feet (3.0 m) tall, was enlarged to 19 feet (5.8 m) to prevent it from being overwhelmed by the huge chamber . As late as 1920, the decision was made to substitute an open portal for the bronze and glass grille which was to have guarded the entrance . Despite these changes, the Memorial was finished on schedule . Commission president William H. Taft--who was then Chief Justice of the United States--dedicated the Memorial on May 30, 1922 and presented it to President Warren G. Harding, who accepted it on behalf of the American people . Lincoln's only surviving son, 78 - year - old Robert Todd Lincoln, was in attendance . </P> <P> The Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966 . </P>

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