Abraham Lincoln wax statue melts in Washington DC

A wax sculpture of Abraham Lincoln, crafted by artist Sandy Williams IV, has partially melted due to the extreme heat experienced in Washington, D.C. last week.

This 6-foot replica of the Lincoln Memorial, displayed outside Garrison Elementary School, is part of the "40 Acres: Camp Barker" exhibit, which is included in the artist’s Wax Monument series.

The exhibit is located at Camp Barker, a former contraband camp during the Civil War known for its poor conditions but also seen as a symbol of hope and community.

Now headless, the Lincoln wax statue lost its head in the intense heat over the weekend, according to FOX 5 DC. Cultural DC, which commissioned the project, provided an update on the sculpture, stating, "This 3,000-lb wax sculpture is intended to be burnt like a candle and to change over time, but this wild heat has done a number on Lincoln."

They noted that the wax used has a congealing point of 140 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the statue to slump more than expected.

Weather.gov reported that the high temperature in Washington, D.C. reached 100 degrees, contributing to the sculpture's accelerated melting.