CHARLESTON - In 1969, the world's largest statue of Abraham Lincoln stood majestically with his right arm and index finger extended upward, beckoning tourists.

Now the statue, meant to depict the former president in the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate, looks almost menacing with a fist raised.

The statue, more than 60 feet tall, once stood at the entrance of Lincoln Memorial Park, southeast of here. It was commissioned from the Gordon Displays Co. of Minneapolis and dreamed up by the Charleston Tourism Development Corp. commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates.

And now it has fallen by the wayside and is in extreme disrepair, said Shannon Carter with the Graywood Foundation.

"His face has holes in it," Carter said of the Lincoln statue. "The paint is chipping all over and is faded. He almost looks scary. In fact he does. He looks very menacing."

The statue weighs more than 10 tons and is in the Springhaven Campgrounds in Charleston. It was moved to the campgrounds in 1979 after the tourism group could no longer afford to pay for the land it was on, Carter said.

The statue, which used to be a respectful representation of the former president, is a disgrace, Carter said.

The Graywood Foundation, a nonprofit organization that works with people with disabilities, has said it is dedicated to fixing the statue and building up the area around it, Carter said.

"When you look at what Lincoln stood for, to have a statue depict him in such disrepair is an insult to his memory and legacy," she said.

The statue, which was completed in 1969 by sculptor Bob Eglett, is made of fiberglass and reinforced steel and depicts Lincoln during his debate with Stephen Douglas at the Coles County Fairgrounds in 1858. His right arm is raised in the air, as if making a point during the debate, Carter said.

It has been moved twice and has been damaged by vandalism and nature over time.

There is a hole in the back of his head made by a bird, a small hole in his left cheek that appears to be from a bullet, a hole big enough for a small child to fit into on the heel of one of his feet, chipped and faded paint and fingers are missing from his right hand, Carter said.

"It looks like he has his fist in the air, not like he is pointing," she said. "The statue is not dignified anymore."

The foundation purchased the statue and the campgrounds about two years ago and hopes to raise the funds needed to fix it through its Lincoln Restoration Benefit.

Along with repairing the statue, the foundation hopes to create Abe's Garden where "visitors can stroll through the gardens of wildflowers and fruit trees, reminisce near the reflective pools and absorb the local lore and history under the watchful eye of Abe himself."

"People come from all over the world to look at this statue," said Augustine Oruwari, president and CEO of the Graywood Foundation. "We want to create a place for families to be and enjoy this statue and great man."

Oruwari said the foundation hopes to raise enough money to build an interactive educational center near the statue with computers, games, pictures and videos that would add an educational experience for families visiting the site.

He said they have received bids of between $35,000 and $45,000 to repair the statue and about $75,000 for the garden and educational center. The campground, which was closed for about 10 years, is on 130 acres with 48 acres of spring-fed lake.

"It's a beautiful area," Oruwari said. "We just want a dignified statue to go with it."

The benefit's largest component is a raffle that began Dec. 20. Ticket holders have a chance to win a 2004 Hummer H2 or $40,000, $5,000, a seven-day/six-night trip to Hawaii with lodging and airfare included, $1,000, $500 and other prizes. Tickets are $100 and only 1,500 will be sold, Carter said. The drawing will be held at 2 p.m. May 15, and ticket holders don't need to be present to win.

"We will fix the statue," Carter stressed. "With the immensity of Lincoln, how could you let someone who represented so much look like this? He is the most recognized president ever in all of history. He did so much for so many people. And he practiced law here; he had friends and relatives that lived here; he had parents and a grandmother here. There is so much history in this area. And this is where the Lincoln-Douglas debate took place. How could we not do whatever we can to fix it?"

All proceeds from the raffle and benefit will go to the statue, Abe's Garden and the educational center, Carter said. Form more information about the statue or for tickets call 345-3461 or go to www.graywood.org.

Abbey Brown can be reached at 788-1529 or abbey.brown@sj-r.com.