Heatwave Causes Six-Foot Abraham Lincoln Wax Statue to Melt

During a sweltering summer heatwave in Washington, DC, a six-foot-tall wax statue of Abraham Lincoln at Garrison Elementary School underwent an unexpected transformation.

Created by artist Sandy Williams IV and funded by the non-profit organization CulturalDC, the statue began to melt rapidly as temperatures soared to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

As the heat increased, Lincoln’s head detached, one leg separated from the body, and even the chair he was seated on sank into the softened ground.

Despite efforts to protect it, the wax statue—designed to change like a candle—could not withstand the extreme heat, capturing widespread attention with viral photos and discussions across the internet.