Lincoln Watermelon Monument

Lincoln, Illinois

The only town ever named for Abraham Lincoln while he was still alive sports this downtown monument in the shape of a two-foot-long ear-to-ear watermelon slice. It commemorates the day in 1853 when the future 16th President, who was then just an Illinois lawyer, christened his namesake community by slicing open a melon and pouring its juice onto the ground. In agreeing to lend his name to this place, Abe reportedly said, "I never knew anything named Lincoln that amounted to much."

The watermelon slice, made of painted steel, is among the more obscure Lincoln monument we've ever seen. It was erected in 1964 by the combined efforts of Lincoln's Kiwanis, Rotary, and Lions clubs.