Overheard

I overheard both of these conversations yesterday:

Two twenty-something girls on the metro, talking to each other

Girl: I mean, he was looking at me like I had a third head!

I think a second head would be just as shocking...

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At the Tidal Basin, which is right in front of the Jefferson Memorial

Twenty-Something Guy to Friends: Do you guys want to go to the Jefferson Memorial?

Twenty-Something Girl: Is that the one with the guy sitting down?

Twenty-Something Guy: Yeah.

I love that the guy said yeah. Now, I don't expect people to necessarily identify every memorial correctly. I know the Jefferson Memorial isn't as well-known (it's not right off the Mall like a lot of the other memorials; which means not as many people walk over there). Plus, both the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials have columns in front. That might get people mixed-up (and if so, they're going to be really confused about a lot of buildings in DC).

Jefferson Memorial

vs.

Lincoln Memorial

But, correct me if I'm wrong, I was under the impression that the Lincoln Memorial is kind of an iconic memorial; one that is ingrained in American minds from history class and history books (Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Marian Anderson sang in front of the Lincoln Memorial. To name a few). Not to mention the fact that the Lincoln Memorial is stamped on the back of the penny (with Lincoln on the other side; as if that's not obvious enough). Even more iconic is Abraham Lincoln himself -- both in terms of his historical impact and the way he looked. Ridiculously tall, skinny guy with a kind of funny face and a beard. So I would think the ingrained image in your mind of "that guy sitting down" would also include that ingrained image of that unusual looking president. And you would realize it's Lincoln sitting down -- and Lincoln would not be sitting down in Jefferson's Memorial.

vs.

Furthermore, these people were at the Tidal Basin, within eyesight of the Jefferson Memorial. From where they were standing, you can see Jefferson in the center of the memorial, and he is standing. Thomas Jefferson was also an iconic president (just ask the nickel!), but I know less people probably know what he looked like compared to Lincoln. But I can't imagine too many people get images of Jefferson and Lincoln mixed up.

vs.

Anyway, that's just my two cents (which would be two coins with the Jefferson Memorial on the back, right?)