Where's the Abe statue in Delaware Park?

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A longtime fixture in Buffalo’s Delaware Park, the statue of a young Abraham Lincoln, is gone from its pedestal. Many people in the area are asking, “Where is Abe?”

The bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting on a log is a landmark in Delaware Park.

The statue, dedicated in 1935, greets visitors along Lincoln Parkway. That includes Linda Beenau, who provided us with a major clue.

“I saw a giant machine that was strapped down to the statue, and they were preparing to move it off of the pedestal onto the truck,” said Beenau.

It’s a moment Linda captured on video, a crew carefully lifting Abe away.

Our quest for answers brought us to Niagara Square and led us to the executive director of the Buffalo Arts Commission, Emerson Barr.

“Abe is now in California, Missouri,” Barr said. “He’s with Russell-Marti Conservation Services. They came yesterday, took a crane and lifted him off the base and then boxed him up and took him back. There’s been two damages (to the statue).”

These photos show cracks in the statue, and remnants of blue paint leftover from vandalism.

Barr said the statue will return by the end of the year.

Watch the full report in the video player above.