Jefferson Memorial: Controversial tribute to the third U.S. president
Built on a man-made peninsula just south of the National Mall area of downtown Washington, D.C., the Jefferson Memorial is an open-air tribute to the nation’s third president – the only president to never veto an act of Congress.
The neoclassical building was designed by John Russell Pope, who also developed such noted sites as the National Archives along the mall, and National City Christian Church, on Thomas Circle near the White House.
The memorial was not without controversy. Many of the elite in Washington opposed its placement at the Tidal Basin because it was not in the plans of Pierre L’Enfant, original designer of the D.C. government sector. Despite significant opposition, construction began in 1939, the building was completed in 1943, and the bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947.
In 2007, it was ranked as fourth in popularity on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.
The Jefferson Memorial was officially dedicated by President Roosevelt on April 13, 1943, the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birthday. The interior of the memorial features a 19-foot-tall bronze statue of Jefferson by sculptor Rudulph Evans, which was added four years after the dedication.
The interior walls are engraved with passages from Jefferson's writings. Most famous are the words which are emblazoned in a frieze below the dome: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This sentence is quoted from a Sept. 23, 1800, correspondence by Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush wherein he defends the constitutional refusal to recognize a state religion.
Visitors pay no fee to enter the memorial, and it’s open 24/7, although park rangers are available to answer questions only during most daylight hours. Note: parking is extremely limited, so it’s a good idea to either take the Metrorail subway or, even better, one of the available Tourmobiles that travel along many downtown routes.
Special events often occur weekly at the memorial, especially during warmer weather months. Check the National Park Service web site for the memorial before visiting.
Posted by Jim Brown
