Lincoln statue destined for Gettysburg

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GETTYSBURG, Pa., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- The artist who created a statue of Abraham Lincoln to be erected in Gettysburg, Pa., said he will return annually for the statue's maintenance.

Salt Lake City artist Stanley Watts, who since 2008 has sought a Gettysburg site able to accept the extreme weight of the 7-foot-6-inch-tall statue, will also provide the crane for the statue's installation in April at the library in downtown Gettysburg, the Hanover Evening Sun reported Tuesday.

"It will be a very attractive gift to the borough and should be a compelling driver for tourists to visit downtown," said Rob Lesher, the executive director of the Adams County Library System.

After years of unsuccessful attempts to install the statue at the library and other sites, such as the American Civil War Museum, the Lincoln Train Station, Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, the library now owns the statue, the Evening Star reported.

"It's a very sizable monument," said Lesher, who said the pedestal alone weighs 3 tons. "We had to make sure that it was safe for the building and the community."