Thomas Jefferson Memorial DC

Thomas Jefferson Memorial DC

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial was another really cool memorial that I loved.  We spent quite a bit of time here.  It was hot outside and we had walked the National Mall and half of the Tidal Basin by this point.

This memorial was a great spot to take a seat and cool off while reading the inscriptions on the walls and such.  My son was complaining that his legs were hurting.  So, we sat down to rest a bit.

My ankles weren’t in great shape either.  I was dealing with high blood pressure at the time, so I was retaining water and my ankles were swollen huge.  Despite that, I did my best to ignore them throughout this trip.  I think by the time we got here; they were likely numb.

Anyway, we rested for probably 15 or 20 minutes here while cooling off.  We talked about what we knew about Thomas Jefferson and what he stood for.   And, of course, we talked about the gorgeous architecture of the memorial.

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About Thomas Jefferson Memorial DC

Established on Thomas Jefferson’s 200th birthday, April 13, 1934, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission joined with the McMillan Commission in the decision to place the memorial due south of the White House.

Designed by John Russell Pope, the memorial consists of a circular structure based on the Pantheon and Monticello sitting on 2.5 acres.  The memorial includes a 5-point monument center, originally envisioned by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791.  The memorial weighs 32,000 tons.

Thomas Jefferson’s 19-foot-tall statue, sculpted by Rudolph Evans, weighs 10,000 pounds and stands in the center of the 129-foot dome, exactly like the Pantheon.   His memorial overlooks the Tidal Basin, surrounded by the famous cherry blossom trees gifted to us from Japan in 1912.

Thomas Jefferson’s words are inscribed into the walls of his memorial, forever shaping the ideals of this country.  The memorial stands as a symbol of liberty, dedicated in 1943, and endures as a site for all citizens of this country and the world to reflect and be inspired.

“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.” – Thomas Jefferson

Located near the National Mall at 16 E. Basin Drive SW, the memorial is free to visit 24/7/365.

Summary

We were pretty tired by this point in the trip and especially after walking so much that day.  But we do the best we can to have a good time no matter how we’re feeling.  My son’s smile says it all, “I’m tired Mom, but how cool is this?”.

I recommend visiting the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, naturally.  I mean if you’re in the area visiting the other memorials, why not hit them all?  Go see what Jefferson was all about.

Have you been there?  I’d love to hear what you thought of it.  Did you learn anything new?

Please drop a few lines in the comments box below and let me know how your visit went.

In the meantime, safe travels!

~Kris M.

P.S.  If you happen to use travel journals, be sure to check out the travel journal I created for my future Washington DC Road Trips.

Written by Kris M.