UW-Madison students do not have to travel to the nation's capitol to get a glimpse of a memorial to see one of America's greatest leaders.
A statue of Abraham Lincoln has watched over UW-Madison students since 1909.
While the statue is renowned as a great work of sculpture, it is no coincidence America's 16th president has a place on campus.
The statue was a gift from the sculptor, Adolph Weinman, who crafted a replica statue that resides in Hodgenville, Ky.
The inscription on the statue, however, notes former UW-Madison student.
Thomas Brittingham as the donor although he only paid for the casting and pedestal.
President Lincoln played a key role in the development of UW-Madison in 1862 when he signed the Moral Land Grant Act, allowing the state to purchase 933 acres for the university at a price of less than $2 per acre.
UW-Madison sophomore tour guide Matthew Dulak said although Lincoln had no direct involvement in UW-Madison, the university would have had trouble developing without his help.
In recent years, the university went to great lengths to make sure Abe would be a part of UW-Madison's future for many years to come.
New York City-based art conserver Cameron Wilson and his wife Jackie revamped the statue in 1999.
\The gentlemen from the university contacted the [Elvejhem] and asked who should do the Abe Lincoln and they suggested that we do it,"" Wilson said.
The Wilson team travels all over the country and around the world working on different sculptures and objects.
The members worked on several important pieces including the Statue of Freedom in Washington D.C. and a 13-ton glass mural in Rockefeller Center.
""Since we work on so many historic monuments, as well as modern sculptures, I think we fit the bill,"" Wilson said.
The Wilsons removed the surface corrosion and added a protective and even quality by melting wax onto the statue to restore the statue's original appearance.
Over the years, the statue became more than a symbol of higher education; it represents a long line of tradition and myth present on the campus.
In January 1944, The Daily Cardinal ran an April Fools Day story joking that Abe Lincoln stood up every time a virgin walked by.
This funny fabrication is still in circulation today, leading many students to jest about the promiscuity of their fellow classmates.
Abe also plays a role in the graduation process.
Although not as prevalent in recent years, it is tradition for UW-Madison students to line up at the Abe Lincoln statue after commencement to sit in his lap and whisper their goals and aspirations into his ear for good luck as they set out into the world.
UW-Madison tour guide coordinator Jeremy Traska said the Abe Lincoln statue has a prestigious role far beyond a piece of artwork.
""In my opinion, he's the unofficial historical mascot of the campus,"" he said.
Myths and history aside, the Abe Lincoln statue is a part of student life from the first time students trod the length of Bascom Hill to the goodbye kiss the president receives as UW-Madison students leave to make their way in the world.
