Rubbing "Lincoln's Nose"

Above, the sculpture of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In front of the tomb of Abraham Lincoln at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois stands a bronze sculpture of Lincoln's head.

The first thing people will notice upon approaching the sculpture is that the nose on the sculpture is shiny and clean-looking.

Why is that?

According to Roadside America:

200,000 people a year visit Lincoln's Tomb in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery. Judging from the appearance of Abe's big bronze head, lots of those visitors make it a point to stop and give a rub to Lincoln's nose. 

Why? Some folks believe that rubbing the nose of any statue brings good luck -- so the nose of a person as successful as the President must be especially powerful. And how many Presidential noses are within reach of a furtive touch, let alone a vigorous buffing? Not many. Perhaps that's the reason that the tomb designers of man-of-the-people Lincoln put his sizable honker within reach of all.

For those who wish to know more:

The bronze sculpture was sculpted by none other than Gutzon Borglum, who sculpted the presidents (including Lincoln) on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.

Above, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.