The Lincoln Memorial was built between 1914 and 1922 after the plans of Henry Bacon at the end of the National Mall, on the bank of the Potomac river, in Washington D.C. It imitates a Doric temple, and its simplicity offers a welcome contrast to the other public buildings of the federal capital, which follow the somewhat haughty Roman architectural tradition. The Memorial is the favorite focus of public demonstrations, because the stairs, overlooking the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, with the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the background, offer a spectacular and symbolic pedestal for speakers. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his most famous „I have a dream” speech here in 1963.