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Over the weekend, a six-foot-tall Abraham Lincoln replica in Washington DC began to melt under the scorching summer heat, resulting in significant damage to it. The statue, installed at an elementary school in Northwest Washington since February, initially saw its head melt, followed by a leg separating from the torso and a foot turning into a blob.

According to the BBC, even the chair beneath the statue sank to the ground due to heat. Washington DC saw temperatures soar to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 37.7 degrees Celsius).

The replica, titled ’40 ACRES: Camp Barker’ and created by US-based artist Sandy Williams IV, is a wax sculpture that serves both as a representation of the Lincoln Memorial and as a functional candle.

CulturalDC commented on the situation, noting, “Our staff has purposely removed Lincoln’s head to prevent it from falling and breaking.”

They further explained that while the sculpture is designed to change over time like a candle, the extreme heat accelerated this process beyond expectations.

Washington, DC experienced a scorching high of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 37.7 degrees Celsius) on Saturday, as reported by weather.gov, reported Fox News.

It weighs approximately 3,000 lbs and was commissioned by the non-profit organisation CulturalDC.

The wax used in the sculpture has a congealing point of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius), meaning it begins to melt or harden at that temperature.

Despite the damage, CulturalDC intends for the installation to remain at the school until September, as part of its commemoration titled “40 ACRES: Camp Barker.”