By Chris Mackowski on August 31, 2025 of The Emerging Civil War
A new statue depicting President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation will be dedicated in Washington, D.C., on September 22, 2025—the anniversary of the event. The dedication is being held as the kickoff to the Grand Reopening of the African American Civil War Museum, set for mid-November.
Jeffrey Boutwell of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia offers the details. Click here to see the post.
From the press release:
As the kickoff to the Grand Reopening of the African American Civil War Museum, an inspiring new statue of President Abraham Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation will be unveiled on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 11 A.M. outside the museum.
The outdoor event will feature live music, Civil War re-enactors in period dress, and guest speakers.
The date of September 22nd was chosen to mark the anniversary of Lincoln’s 1862 Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which warned the states that had seceded in 1861 to return to the Union or face the freeing of enslaved people on January 1, 1863. Lincoln issued the final Proclamation, freeing millions and calling for the enlistment of Black soldiers. By the end of the Civil War, more than 209,000 United States Colored Troops (USCT)—many of them formerly enslaved—had fought for the Union, helping secure victory.
The USCT is the central focus of the museum’s expanded 16,000-square-foot space, set to reopen on Veterans Day, November 11, 2025. Through exhibits, programs, and educational resources, the museum tells the story of the men who faced extraordinary obstacles, including the threat of re-enslavement if captured, yet served with honor and distinction.
The new statue was designed and sculpted by noted artist Stan Watts of Salt Lake City, Utah, who is scheduled to attend the unveiling. It will stand on the walkways outside the museum, symbolically linking President Lincoln to the Black soldiers and sailors who helped preserve the Union. The dedication event is chaired by the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, a 90-year-old organization devoted to preserving Lincoln’s legacy. The Civil War Roundtable of DC has also partnered with the Museum to make this event possible.
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The museum is located across Vermont Avenue from the African American Civil War Memorial, which bears the names of all 209,145 USCT soldiers who served in Union forces. Since its opening in 1998, the memorial and museum have honored their sacrifice and kept their stories alive. The centerpiece of the memorial is a nine-foot bronze statue entitled The Spirit of Freedom. It is at the corner of Vermont Ave, 10th Street , and U Street NW, a short distance from the Museums entrance on Vermont Ave NW. It is surrounded by a wall of honor listing the names of all who served in the USCT.
With its extensive collection of photographs, documents, and artifacts, the museum offers visitors a powerful lens into the lives of the USCT and their families. It also connects past and present through its Civil War Descendants and US Colored Troops databases, providing a living link between the soldiers of yesterday and their descendants today.
The African American Civil War Museum is housed in the historic Grimké Building, once home to abolitionist and lawyer Archibald Grimké (1849 – 1930). He was born into slavery in South Carolina and became the second African American to graduate from Harvard Law School. The Museum is a private, nonprofit institution and receives no federal funding.