Monument to Thomas Jefferson
Thomas jefferson memorial,thomas jefferson statue,thomas jefferson
The Pantheon in Rome was the inspiration for the neoclassical design of
the Jefferson Memorial. This is the country’s way of remembering its third
President, and the style is one that Thomas Jefferson made popular in the
country. This striking building, with its typical classical colonnades and
round shape, has become a Washington landmark, in the centre of the city,
and is a three dimensional representation of Jefferson’s contribution to
the country in his various roles as an architect, a politician, founder
of the University of Virginia, President, a drafter of the Declaration of
Independence and Constitution consultant. An Act of Congress passed in June
1934 called for the creation of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission,
which was to build something to immortalize the third President. The architect
behind this building was John Russell Pope. Pope passed away in August 1937,
and his work was continued by Otto R Eagers and Daniel P Higgins. The Tidal
basin was chosen as the ideal site in the same year.
At the time, there was an outcry from the people, who were upset that
some Japanese cherry trees were to be uprooted to make room for the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial. In addition, protests were lodged by the Commission
of Fine Arts, who felt that the pantheon style planned would clash with
the Lincoln Memorial. It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the President
then, who gave the go ahead to the pantheon design when consulted by the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission. Roosevelt also ceremonially placed
the Memorial’s cornerstone on November 15, 1939.
Thomas Jefferson was also immortalized in a figure by Rudolph Evans –
this statue portrays Jefferson’s roles both as a statesman and as a philosopher,
and reflects the Age of Enlightenment. This figure has been placed so
that it looks towards the White House from inside the Memorial. The nineteen
foot figure is made of 5 tons of bronze. A triangular platform bears another
work of art, the carving by Adolph A Weinman of the five drafters of the
Declaration of Independence reporting to Congress. Another thing worth
seeing is at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is the inscription inside the
Memorial – here you will find Jefferson’s own quotations, which embody
his life’s philosophy.
The Thomas Jefferson
Memorial was dedicated in 1943. It is the National Park Service
who looks after and keeps the Memorial in good shape. The biggest alteration
has been the removal of a figure of the President made of plaster, and
the placement of a bronze figure instead. This took place once the Second
World War was over, and there was no longer a shrotage of metal. There
are many annual events held at the Jefferson Memorial such as the much
appreciated Cherry Blossom Festival, the Easter Sunrise Services and the
Memorial exercises.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is in the downtown part of Washington D.C.
Its exact location is on the southern side of the Tidal Basin – you can
get to it easily from the Metro stop Smithsonian. Working hours here are
between 8 am and 1145 pm and the Memorial is open to visitors throughout
the year, with Christmas Day being the only holiday. |
