Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial at dusk.

Quick Facts

Amenities

7 listed

Bicycle - Rental, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Public Transit, Restroom, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Wheelchair Accessible

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was the third president of the United States, Secretary of State in George Washington's cabinet, and the author of the Declaration of Independence. Begun as a New Deal construction project, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial was completed in 1943. The imposing marble structure's columns and Monticello-esque dome bear selections of Jefferson's writings on several themes including religion, education, freedom, and government. Additional exhibits and restrooms are located on the lower level.

Inscriptions

Beneath rotunda
I HAVE SWORN UPON THE ALTAR OF GOD ETERNAL HOSTILITY AGAINST EVERY FORM OF TYRANNY OVER THE MIND OF MAN
Walls around statue
ALLMIGHTY GOD HATH CREATED THE MIND FREE. ALL ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE IT BY TEMPORAL PUNISHMENTS OR BURTHENS...ARE A DEPARTURE FROM THE PLAN OF THE HOLY AUTHOR OF OUR RELIGION..NO MAN SHALL BE COMPELLED TO FREQUENT OR SUPPORT ANY RELIOGIOUS WORSHIP OR MINISTRY OR SHALL OTHERWISE SUFFER ON ACCOUNT OF HIS RELIGIOUS OPINIONS OR BELIEF, BUT ALL MEN SHALL BE FREE TO PROFESS AND BY ARGUMENT TO MAINTAIN, THEIR OPINIONS IN MATTER OF RELIGION. I KNOW BUT ONE CODE OF MORALITY FOR MEN WHETHER ACTING SINGLY OR COLLECTIVELY.
GOD WHO GAVE US LIFE GAVE US LIBERTY. CAN THE LIBERTIES OF A NATION BE SECURE WHEN WE HAVE REMOVED A CONVICTION THAT THESE LIBERTIES ARE THE GIFT OF GOD? INDEED I TREMBLE FOR MY COUNTRY WHEN I REFLECT THAT GOD IS JUST, THAT HIS JUSTICE CANNOT SLEEP FOREVER. COMMERCE BETWEEN MASTER AND SLAVE IS DESPOTISM. NOTHING IS MORE CERTAINLY WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF FATE THAN THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE TO BE FREE. ESTABLISH THE LAW FOR EDUCATING THE COMMON PEOPLE. THIS IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE STATE TO EFFECT AND ON A GENERAL PLAN.
I AM NOT AN ADVOCATE FOR FREQUENT CHANGES IN LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONS. BUT LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS MUST GO HAND IN HAND WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE HUMAN MIND. AS THAT BECOMES MORE DEVELOPED, MORE ENLIGHTENED, AS NEW DISCOVERIES ARE MADE, NEW TRUTHS DISCOVERED AND MANNERS AND OPINIONS CHANGE, WITH THE CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, INSTITUTIONS MUST ADVANCE ALSO TO KEEP PACE WITH THE TIMES. WE MIGHT AS WELL REQUITE A MAN TO WEAR STILL THE COAT WHICH FITTED HIM WHEN A BOY AS CIVILIZED SOCIETY TO REMAIN EVER UNDER THE REGIMEN OF THEIR BARBAROUS ANCESTORS.
WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT: THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN INALIENABLE RIGHTS, AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, THAT TO SECURE THESE RIGHTS GOVERNMENTS ARE INSTITUTED AMONG MEN. WE SOLEMNLY PUBLISH AND DECLARE, THAT THESE COLONIES ARE AND OF RIGHT OUGHT TO BE FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES...AND FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS DECLARATION, WITH A FIRM RELIANCE ON THE PROTECTION OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, WE MUTUALLY PLEDGE OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES AND OUR SACRED HONOUR.
Dedication
MEMORIAL TO THOMAS JEFFERSON
THIRD PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ERECTED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
THE THOMAS JEFFERSON MEMORIAL COMMISSION
CREATED BY AN ACT OF CONGRESS, APPROVED JUNE 26, 1934
CHAIRMEN OF THE COMMISSION
JOHN J. BOYLAN 1935-1938 STUART G. GIBBONEY 1938-1944
MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
CHARLES O. ANDREWS AUGUSTINE LONERGAN
T. JEFFERSON COOLIDGE CHARLES L. McNARY
FRANCIS D. CULKIN HOLLINS N. RANDOLPH
JEFFERSON RANDOLPH KEAN GEORGE J. RYAN
FISKE KIMBALL HOWARD W. SMITH
FRITZ G. LANHAM ELBERT D. THOMAS
JOSEPH P. TUMULTY
EXECUTIVE AGENT
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
CHIEF OF CONSTRUCTION
FRANCIS F. GILLEN
ARCHITECTS
JOHN RUSSELL POPE
1874-1937
ASSOCIATES
OTTO R. EGGERS DANIEL P. HIGGINS
BUILDER
JOHN McSHAIN