Thomas Jefferson Memorial

One of the many great monuments in DC, this one took a while to walk to. As it does not sit directly with the other monuments in the National Mall, we had to take a 20 minute walk and cross a bridge to get here.
The monument itself is beautiful. Getting to the statue of Thomas Jefferson requires walking up several flights of stairs. Once we walked in, we found ourselves in a spacious place with the statues right in the middle. There are engravings along the walls and the ceiling. There are views from the four openings to the building, and pillars line the view of each.
I was impressed by this place, I would recommend it for anyone sightseeing in DC.

To finish out my TJ tour (after visiting UVA and Monticello a couple of weeks earlier), I joined my parents when they went to view the Jefferson memorial while in town. I actually never knew there was a museum exhibit and gift shop underneath the memorial. Most of the information in the exhibit was also given on the Monticello tour, however, it is worth checking out to learn a little more about Jefferson and history of his era in general. The monument is caped with a dome, just like his home in Charlottesville. You get a great overall view of the tidal basin from the top of the steps, plus a nice view of the Washington Monument. The steps, since it provides an awesome view, are an ideal resting point for those with weary legs after trudging around the tidal basin to see the MLK, Jr. and FDR memorials too.

Glad my sneakers were comfortable because it is quite a walk to get to. Upon arriving, the rewarding experience is instant. An iconic piece of America in the form of this colossal statue. Definitely worth the hype and the extra walking. Bring a camera because all pictures are worth it all in the big picture.

Along the rim of the tidal basin sits the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. It’s a nice memorial, sort of empty though. There’s a statue of Jefferson inside, as well as words around the dome. It’s a bit far from the rest of the memorials, but definitely worth a visit!

Many creatures in the world do no harm but receive harm in return for a variety of reasons; many of which are not justified at all. An example of this would be the mockingbird which does no damage to the world but is occasionally killed for sport. Humans can also be mockingbirds and be harmed for doing no damage. In the novel T o Kill a Mockingbird b y Harper Lee, the symbol of the mockingbird is demonstrated by Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Atticus Finch; these characters draw parallels to modern­day figures and people from the past like the Scottsboro Boys, Harper Lee, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Tom Robinson represents the innocence of a mockingbird by having done nothing wrong but dealing with harsh consequences purely because he was black. After the decision of the trial is announced, Jem does not understand how Tom Robinson is convicted and says «How could they do it, how could they?» (Lee 285). Jem heard all of the testimonies and Atticus’s closing statement and knows that Tom Robinson did not do anything wrong, but the Maycomb jury still convicted him anyway. Jem is so surprised because he cannot believe people would do something against an innocent person who is a mockingbird. Even after Tom is dead he is still considered to be a bad person. In Maycomb, Tom’s death is considered «Typical of a [black man] to cut and run» and reinforces the stereotypes in Maycomb (Lee 322). Tom Robinson is talked about like a criminal and horrible man all because he is black which makes him a mockingbird. On March 25, 1931 nine black boys called the «Scottsboro boys» were accused of raping two white girls. The boys were innocent but since the white girls had said that they had raped them, the boys went to trial with a white judge and all white jury. They lost the trial and many many appeals after, until some were eventually let free. However, the state of Alabama did not officially pardon all of the boys until 2013. Like Tom Robinson, these boys were mockingbirds who had done nothing wrong but were harmed anyway. The innocence of Tom Robinson does not save him from becoming a mockingbird and neither does the innocence of the Scottsboro boys because of their skin color.
Boo Radley is considered a monster because he does not come out of his house even though he is not harming anyone. At the beginning of the book, Jem and Scout are really frightened by Boo Radley. Jem describes Boo Radley as «six­and­a­half feet tall, judging fromhis tracks;» and claiming he «dined on squirrels and any cats he could catch» (Lee 16). Scoutand Jem have never actually seen or spoken to Boo Radley but all of Maycomb considers him to be a monster so the children believe it too. In reality, Boo Radley just does not feel comfortablein the world outside of his house but Maycomb makes him into a mockingbird by saying allthese horrible things about him. Later in the book, Jem and Scout start to understand Boo Radley better after the trial. Jem says «I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayedshut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside» (Lee 117). After the trial, Scout and Jem have been exposed to the discrimination of Maycomb and realize that Boo may actually be hiding from the cruelties outside of his house in the real world. The kids now start to think of Boo as a mockingbird of Maycomb because most people consider him a monster without knowing him or thinking about his feeling. The author herself of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee has become much more private with fame and prefers to be left alone in her house. Fame made Lee into a mockingbird because it made her feel the need to withdraw from society in order to feel less vulnerable and have privacy. Boo Radley and Harper Lee both need their privacy but are made into mockingbirds by the world’s views of them.
Atticus Finch is also a symbolic mockingbird in the novel. Atticus takes the Tom Robinson case because he knows Tom is innocent and deserves a good defense but is tortured by Maycomb because of it. Jem and Scout do not understand why Atticus feels the need to defend Tom Robinson because the other people in Maycomb see this defense as crazy. However, Atticus gives his reasons and says that, «If I didn’t I couldn’t hold my head up in town, I couldn’t represent this county in the legislature, I couldn’t even tell you or Jem not do something again» (Lee 100). Atticus feels that defending Tom is his duty and thinks that if he did not do it he would no longer be a respectable man. He even says that he would not be able to walk through town and feel good about himself. This is important because the people of Maycomb are going to be brutal to him if he does defend Tom, but he does it anyway because he thinks that it is the right thing to do. So, when the town is harsh, Atticus becomes a mockingbird.
I give it 5 stars. A++

If you are visiting DC, you should put this on your to-​do list. I never get tired of seeing this beautiful memorial. It is wonderful at sunrise or sunset.

Founding father and third president, have to see his memorial.
One of the harder sites to walk to in the mall. I walked to it from FDR and it seemed like forever until I finally reached it. Sits around the Tidal Basin.
The dome building is amazing. I love any site with huge pilars. The Jefferson Statue is located inside. Not as epic as Lincoln but still a nice site to see.

So much history here. Definitely glad we were able to stop by and see this place before we left DC. I really enjoyed seeing the statue, reading the quotes, and just taking my time here. We also stopped and looked out on the Potomac River from the steps and just got to enjoy the scenery. Highly recommend stopping here when touring DC!

With a fitting tribute to one of the country’s greatest founding fathers, this is a wonderful stretch in the heart of Washington’s tidal basin.
Monument history area downstairs was quite fascinating. Peaceful and serene atmosphere while smaller crowds observe with beautiful and scenic views.
Bathrooms stand at this memorial that is extremely convenient.
Less to see compared to other surrounding buildings but definitely worth the extra mile as this will always be a meaningful memorial.

1. Where is the site?
Washington, DC
2. Is there a fee?
No
3. Who is the site for?
President Thomas Jefferson
4. What makes up the site (is it a single monument? A park? A historic building?)
consisted of a half-​circle memorial situated next to a circular basin, and a statue of Thomas Jefferson inside the building.
5. When did you go?
April, 2016
6. Why did you give it the rating you did?
The site is located in the heart of Washington’s tidal basin. Combining History and Nature is what captivates me about this site. The reflection of the memorial on the water, especially when it’s the peak of the cherry blossoms.

Although the memorial for our third president and primary author of the Declaration of Independence was not completed until 1943, it is more than fitting that this patriot share space with Washington and Lincoln in the DC National Mall. The open-​air design with marble steps and columns is unique, but provides an almost 360 degree view of the imposing 19-​foot, five-​ton bronze statue placed at its center. On one wall are excerpts from the Declaration. Below the dome, in a frieze, are his words: «I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.» A wonderful tribute to one of our most cherished and beloved Founding Fathers.

This and the Lincoln Memorial are my go to when I’m in DC. If it’s not busy, it’s a very serene and peaceful place. Good place to take a book and kick back, or just sit and reflect while taking in the surroundings. One of the must’s when in our nation’s Capitol.

Absolutely gorgeous at night! The memorial itself isn’t as grand as the Lincoln Memorial but the night time view is fantastic. There are also restrooms downstairs, with an exhibit on Jefferson’s life and contributions. There is also a gift shop if you’re a true Jeffersonphile.
The biggest struggle with the Jefferson Memorial is how far away it is from all the other memorials. I’d recommend coming by car rather than attempting to walk it.

I love it this place is
Deep clean
And I loved
D taking pictures in this place
I visited for the cherry blossom and I love it
Safe place

I made it finally. What a special spot in many ways. Don’t miss checking the small museum and souvenir shops underneath!
Price: Free.
Parking: Hmmmm. You should park on streets or garages around Smithsonian and walk here. I walked from the top of Arlington cemetery. It took about 1 hour. I saved money and worked out well.
Special: Many people take special shots here. Wedding, fashion, etc… On the stairs facing the Washington monument.

I will admit that initially I didn’t really find the Jefferson Memorial that much interesting to go to at all. Growing up, either from watching too much TV such as the Simpsons (episode where Lisa goes to Washington & coming across a problem, wants to tell her problems to Lincoln, has to head to Jefferson instead since the Lincoln one was packed), the Jefferson Memorial isn’t really in print or mentioned much, except maybe in your elementary to middle school American History books (and even then, it’s very brief to the point where you forget about it).
Well, as I rounded my way around the Tidal Basin, I finally had the chance to see it up live and personal, and the sight totally blew me away. Standing before me, was a white marble gorgeous Memorial building designed specifically for Jefferson where the architecture of it does not lose in comparison to the one where Lincoln resides. Along the circular room surrounding the white tall sitting statue of Jefferson, there are certain scripture taken from the Declaration of Independence that were contributed by Jefferson and earned him his place in history.
As I stared out into the Tidal Basin from the cool tiled white steps, sitting down and taking a breather, I noticed the beauty of the Washington Monument again throwing its ever-​seeing reflection into the clear waters of the Basin, and you notice the little Tidal Basin Paddle Boat Company along the edge of the Basin; I felt a moment of serene peace an you can’t help but breathe a sign of content as the breeze blows past you.
Definitely a must-​see!

So beautiful. I had to do something touristy while on a work trip to DC, and the night of my departure I had some time to kill so a few friends that are local to the area took me to the memorial, as one of them had never been before. Getting to the memorial itself is not the easiest, as it’s located across the basin from the Mall. The parking lot seemed a little sketch (especially at 8:30pm on Sunday) as it’s set a good distance away from the Memorial. Despite this, the Memorial is a solid five stars. Loved it!
The walkway/​sidewalk is wide and is winding along the path up to the memorial. Be mindful at night that there are no lights along the path, but enough ambient light from the city and light from the Memorial come through to make it dark, but not pitch black. It’s a 10 minute walk if your pace is leisurely, but I didn’t mind it.
As you approach the Memorial from the pathway, you come up along the side, and it’s just breathtaking. It’s expansive, with the statue of Mr. Jefferson in the center, with some of his most famous quotes etched on all «sides» of the circular building. There were only a small handful of people in the Memorial itself, and there is a small sign that asks guests to be quiet and respectful to preserve the air of reflection. It evoked a lovely sense of calm, reflection and reverence in me, and it’s probably one of the most beautiful monuments I’ve experienced.
Upon entrance, there is a mall information center to the left, and a gift shop and restrooms to the right. Info and the shop were both closed that late and night, but I would encourage anyone to go at night. The views across the basin to the mall are lovely with all the lights, and the stark lightness of the memorial against the night sky is not to be missed.

Yo… the walk to this memorial was bananas.
Why it gotta be so far from The Washington/​Lincoln Memorial?
Whatevz, it was still such an iconic spot.
Beautiful trees all around it, and the walk around the basin was nice and relaxing.
Tommy J, they really hooked you up with this ginourmous building/​tribute, brah.

Only writing about the monument not the person.
Getting there can take some effort. If you’re walking, the monument is on the (far) South-​Eastern side of the Tidal Basin, away/​across from the National Mall. Not a bad walk along the sidewalk by the tidal pool, but many people will find it too far, like if you have little kids or difficulty walking, I know the because I heard them complaining.
If you are driving the closest parking spots are wedged between the highway (395) on Ohio Drive SW, where you can park (free) and as you face the Potomac River, walk to your right (Westerly) under the highway, and you could stop a check out the lesser known George Mason Memorial as you turn to your Right and walk (North and East) on East Basin Drive SW, and your at the JM after about less than a ¼ of mile.
As to the description of the Monument see the photos along with this listing. The entrances to the gifts shops and restrooms and exhibits inside the basement are below/​under the stairs that lead up to the podium where the state of TJ stands inside. You may notice the Jefferson’s figure faces toward the Washington Monument obelisk located to the North across the Basin.
For fun, find a stranger a start a debate about which of two got the better monument and who was a better President, or person, or not. IMO the better monuments are on the Mall.
IMO the attractiveness, for lack of a better word, of this structure is actually best experienced across the Basin looking at Memorial, along with the reflection, either in the morning or evening or when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

The Jefferson Memorial is a breathtaking memorial on the Tidal Basin that gets most of its visitors during cherry blossom season when the flowers and the people abound. I’ve never visited during cherry blossom season and although I know all the people would drive me crazy, the photos look SO PRETTY I just have to come back one day.
The memorial is massive with large marble columns around the building. I love how the temperature drops a few degrees when you walk inside the memorial. The statue on the middle is beautiful and it is surrounded by quotes from Jefferson on the walls. This memorial is a bit of a hike, but it is worth it. You can walk around the Tidal Basin to see the FDR Memorial and the MLK Memorial too.

Legends never die, they live forever. The late Thomas Jefferson is a legendary man. He was the archetypal Renaissance Man. In his lifetime; he was an architect, musician, political philosopher, book collector, horticulturist, inventor, one of the drafters of the Declaration of Independence, and third President of the United States of America from 1801 to 1809. The Thomas Jefferson legacy lives in the Jefferson Memorial.
The Jefferson Memorial is on 2.5 acres along the Southeast shoreline of the Tidal Basin. The designers purposely planned the Jefferson Memorial to be exactly south of the White House and Washington Monument. As a matter of fact the 19 foot high bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson is looking directly at the White House. With that said, the views of the White House, Washington Monument, Tidal Basin, and Washington D.C. from the Jefferson Memorial are second to none. It just takes some effort climbing up all the marble steps to reach the rotunda. One of my dearest moments in Washington D.C. was watching the sundown over the Tidal Basin from the rotunda.
Thomas Jefferson was a man who had a way with words. His famous quotes are displayed on the four panels of the interior walls. They tell a story of a legendary man who strongly believed in democracy, freedom, and education. Reading his words were inspirational. Just as touching as Thomas Jefferson’s words is the memorial dedicated to him.
The Jefferson Memorial is down the shoreline from the FDR Memorial. The two men’s bonding goes beyond the shoreline connecting their memorials. FDR respected Thomas Jefferson and paid his respect with the idea of the Jefferson Memorial. J.R. Pope designed it in 1936 with Neo-​classical architecture. The circular dome is influenced by the Pantheon in Rome. Fast forward a few years to 1943, and FDR paid the ultimate compliment to Thomas Jefferson with the opening of the Jefferson Memorial.
It was on our first full day in Washington D.C., where I visited the Jefferson Memorial and back in 1984 on a school field trip. Anyways the Jefferson Memorial was the last landmark we saw on a tour of the memorials and monuments on the West National Mall and Tidal Basin shoreline. The walk from the FDR Memorial to the Jefferson Memorial added to the experience. The Jefferson Memorial is a mesmerizing site reflecting on the Tidal Basin. With each step forward on the treeline walking path on the shore the Jefferson Memorial became closer and more spectacular. We’d take in scenes of paddle boats and geese enjoying life in the shadow of Thomas Jefferson. In my opinion, if you have a few days in Washington D.C., I highly recommend a walk along the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial instead of being dropped off there. Fortunately we caught the Jefferson Memorial when the sun was transitioning to night over the Tidal Basin and beyond (I think Thomas Jefferson would like photography). This was the ultimate conclusion to a day touring the sights of Washington D.C.
Legendary people never die. Thomas Jefferson lives on in the Jefferson Memorial.

Guilty: I double majored in Economics and History… but upon arrival at this monument, I realized I had no idea, off the top of my head, as to what made Thomas Jefferson famous… I had to do some Googling afterwards… apparently after returning from France, he introduced America to Mac & Cheese! I LOVE MAC & CHEESE!!!
For such a large building, the statue is actually quite small in comparison. Seems like they should have built a smaller building, or a much much much bigger statue for the great man who brought us Mac & Cheese!
Murrica!

Auch zu Ehren des dritten Präsidenten der USA, Thomas Jefferson wurde ein Memorial in Washington, D.C. errichtet. Das imposante Bauwerk befindet sich am Rande des Potomac River und direkt am Tidal Basin.
Thomas Jefferson stand für die Ideale der Freiheit, der Gleichheit und des Fortschritts. Daher sollte dem Autor der amerikanischen Unabhängigkeitserklärung und dessen Freiheitsidealen ein Denkmal gesetzt werden. Es erinnert ein wenig an das römische Pantheon.
Im Memorial selbst steht eine ungefähr 6,5 Meter hohe und etwa 4,5 Tonnen schwere wuchtig aussehende Bronzestatue des Thomas Jefferson. Sie trägt folgende übersetzte Inschrift: «Ich schwöre vor dem Altar Gottes ewige Feindseligkeit gegen jede Form von Tyrannei gegen die Menschheit!».
Aus dem Gebäude heraus hat man einen wunderschönen Blick auf das Tidal Basin und das Washington Monument. Am Gebäude wachsen japanische Zierkirschen, ein Geschenk der Japaner an die USA im Jahr 1912.
Das Memorial wurde 1943 zu Ehren des 200 Geburtstags von Thomas Jefferson feierlich eingeweiht. Ausschnitte aus Reden und Schriften Jeffersons sind an den Wänden eingraviert. Dieses historische Gebäude wirkte auf mich wie ein alter Tempel.
Auch diese Sehenswürdigkeit wird vom National Park Service verwaltet und sollte man sich bei einem Besuch in Washington nicht entgehen lassen.

C’est le genre de monument qui vous rappelle l’attachement que portent les Américains à leur (courte) histoire et à leurs valeurs. Le gigantisme de la statue et de son écrin vous attirent, vous écrasent et vous sidèrent. Vous en ressortez édifié, voire troublé, un peu perdu dans le vaste site saisissant qui l’entoure.

Das Jefferson Memorial wurde zu Ehren Thomas Jeffersons, dritter Präsidenten der USA, errichtet.
Zu Beginn der 1930er Jahre gab es bereits das Lincoln Memorial zum Gedenken an Abraham Lincoln und das Washington Monument zu Ehren George Washingtons. Auf Anregung Franklin D. Roosevelt (Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten 1933 – 1945), begannen Gespräche, für Thomas Jefferson ein Monument zu bauen. So sollte dem Autor der Unabhängigkeitserklärung der USA und seinen Freiheitsidealen ein Denkmal gesetzt werden.
Im Inneren steht eine überlebensgroße Bronzestatue welche erst Jahre nach dem Abschluss der Bauphase aufgestellt wurde.
Das Monument hat eine geringere Popularität, verglichen mit den zuvor genannten. Dafür lohnt ein bezaubernder Blick vom Memorial über den Potomack zum Washington Monument und dem Weißen Haus dahinter.