Statue of Thomas Jefferson and the Symbology on the statue

Thomas Jefferson Memorial Statue

NPS Antoine Thomas

Quick Facts

Location:

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Designation:

Historic Site

Amenities

3 listed

Information, Restroom, Wheelchair Accessible

New York sculptor artist Rudolph Evans was selected by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission to undertake the portrait statue of Thomas Jefferson. The 19’ tall bronze statue was installed in April of 1947, replacing the original statue which due to wartime restrictions on the use of precious metals, was made of plaster-of-Paris. What is Jefferson looking at? The statue faces north towards the White House which he lived in as our Third President. Jefferson also looks toward the monument to his fellow Virginia revolutionary, George Washington. Some point out that Jefferson may be keeping a wary eye on Alexander Hamilton, his great political foe. Hamilton's statue, by James Earle Fraser, is on the south side of the U.S. Treasury Building.

If one were to walk behind the Thomas Jefferson statue, several things appear to confirm Jefferson's love of the land and agriculture. These interest are represented by a stack of books and stalks of corn.