"The Thomas Jefferson Memorial" by NPS/Rachel Hendrix , public domain
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
National Memorial - District of Columbia
The Jefferson Memorial is a presidential memorial built in Washington, D.C. between 1939 and 1943, under the sponsorship of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. For Roosevelt it was a suitable memorial to the Founding Father of the United States, and the founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, Thomas Jefferson.
The neoclassical Memorial building is situated in West Potomac Park on the shore of the Tidal Basin off the Washington Channel of the Potomac River. It was designed by the architect John Russell Pope and built by the Philadelphia contractor John McShain.
Official Visitor Map of George Washington Memorial Parkway (MEMPKWY) in Virginia and District of Columbia. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Official Visitor Map of Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (NHP) in Washington D.C., Maryland and West Virginia. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Map of the U.S. National Heritage Areas. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
https://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Memorial
The Jefferson Memorial is a presidential memorial built in Washington, D.C. between 1939 and 1943, under the sponsorship of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. For Roosevelt it was a suitable memorial to the Founding Father of the United States, and the founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, Thomas Jefferson.
The neoclassical Memorial building is situated in West Potomac Park on the shore of the Tidal Basin off the Washington Channel of the Potomac River. It was designed by the architect John Russell Pope and built by the Philadelphia contractor John McShain.
Author of the Declaration of Independence, statesman and visionary for the founding of a nation.
GPS Coordinates: 38.881387, -77.036508 Thomas Jefferson Memorial is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. The site lies at the southern end of the National Mall, adjacent to the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. The memorial rests within the sightline to and from the White House, which stands one mile to the north.
Thomas Jefferson at Sunset
Thomas Jefferson Memorial reflects on Tidal Basin
Thomas Jefferson Memorial reflecting on the Tidal Basin during sunset
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial with flowering trees in the foreground
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial framed by cherry blossoms
Thomas Jefferson Memorial at Night
Photo of Thomas Jefferson Memorial from plaza
Late night image of Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Statue of Thomas Jefferson
Close up of Thomas Jefferson Statue
Statue of Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson at Night
Thomas Jefferson Memorial at Night
Reflections of the past
National Mall and Memorial Parks - 2018 Partnership Report
Our generous partners and volunteers provided more than $34 million in philanthropic contributions in 2018 helping us fund preservation projects, programs, commemorations, and celebrations.
Aerial photo of the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool
Jefferson Memorial Dedication Drew Dignitaries, Declaration
The dedication of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial on April 13, 1943 drew President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's, a wide array of dignitaries, and a special exhibit featuring Jefferson's Declaration of Independence.
Declaration of Independence at base of Thomas Jefferson statue in the Jefferson Memorial
National Park Getaway: National Mall & Memorial Parks
National Mall and Memorial Parks is a diverse national park with distinctive sites that excite and enchant visitors while they learn the history of our nation. Begin your journey through “America’s Front Yard,” home to some of the nation's more iconic memorials located in the heart of the nation's capital.
Cherry blossoms framing the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in the distance
7/4- Seven Stories for the Ages
There are certain dates that people circle on their calendar. Year to year, these dates may change for some, with the incidental importance one day may hold to the next. Vacations, doctor’s appointments, dates, family reunions, etc. are all important. They affect us all differently, at varied stages of our lives. One date, however, on the calendar of most Americans, is generally highlighted. The fourth day of July is significant for all of us.
A sketch of Stephen Foster appears on a postage stamp.
What did the presidents do on July Fourth?
On July 4th, 1976, President Ford designated Valley Forge a National Park.
Man in modern suit stands in a covered wagon and waves.
Jefferson Memorial Restoration
The National Park Service has begun a 15-month project to restore the roofs, repair the stone, and clean the marble at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The memorial will remain open for the duration of the project, although some areas will be inaccessible.
Jefferson Memorial with roof sections labeled
Memorials for the Future
Memorials for the Future, is a competition that aims to rethink the way we develop and experience memorials in Washington, D.C.
Memorials for the Future Logo
Spring 1807: President Thomas Jefferson spurns an opportunity for peace with Great Britain
When the Jay Treaty took effect in 1796, President George Washington accomplished his goal of improving diplomatic relations with Great Britain. Less than ten years later, President Thomas Jefferson let the treaty’s commercial clauses expire. But when the Royal Navy began seizing American merchant ships, Congress urged the President to work out a settlement.
Portrait of Thomas Jefferson
National Mall and Memorial Parks - 2019 Partnership Report
Our generous partners and volunteers provided more than $34 million in philanthropic contributions in 2018 helping us fund preservation projects, programs, commemorations, and celebrations.
Aerial photo of the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Cultural Landscape
The Jefferson Memorial landscape includes 19.2 acres of land immediately south of the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC. With the neo-classical white marble memorial modeled after the Roman Pantheon as its focal point, this component landscape forms the southern end of the kite-shaped design plan for the city proposed by the McMillan Commission in 1902.
The neo-classical Jefferson Memorial stands at the edge of the water of the Tidal Basin.
National Mall and Memorial Parks - Major Restorations 2020
Scaffolding surrounds the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, as a major restoration of the site continues.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial dome with scaffolding.
Plan Like a Park Ranger: Top 10 Tips for Visiting the National Mall
Memorial Day weekend usually marks the beginning of the summer travel season. Across the country, friends, families, and individuals will head out to enjoy adventures and make memories. Of course, national parks - including the National Mall - are popular destinations. To help you #PlanLikeAParkRanger, we're offering our Top 10 tips to help you on your next National Mall visit.
Text reading
Series: African American History at Gettysburg
Abraham Brian, Basil Biggs, James Warfield, and Mag Palm are just a few of the many individuals that were affected by the Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg, and each has their own story to tell. We have collected their stories in one place so that you can learn more about their various trials during this tumultuous time in American history.
A black and white photograph of a black family posing with a white man and his horse in a dirt road.
Sea Level Rise in the DC Area
Learn about current and projected rates of sea level rise in the greater DC area, based on local water level data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
A tall white cylinder attached to a wooden pier with Hains Point in the background.
Measuring Up
Only a handful of US Park Police (USPP) officers from the 1940s through 1970 were women. In 1972, however, two events opened the door to change. Thirty years after the first policewomen were hired, women officers were uniformed, making them publicly visible for the first time. In addition, a legal challenge to USPP’s minimum height and weight standards for women brought at least the promise of more opportunities for policewomen.
Paulette Dabbs in her Park Police uniform shirt, cross tie, and hat.
Jefferson Memorial Education Series: “I Like the Way You Have Worked Out the Inscription”
Do the inscriptions in the Jefferson Memorial represent Thomas Jefferson's beliefs and philosophies? In this education activity for 8th-12th grade, students will compare an inscription in the memorial to an earlier draft, and to the original text of the Declaration of Independence. They will analyze how shortening or editing a quotation can change its meaning. To extend the lesson, they will compose their own suggestion for an inscription in taken from the Declaration.
Declaration of Independence inscription in bronze letters inside the Jefferson Memorial
Jefferson Memorial Education Series: Time and Text
Have you ever been misquoted or had your words taken out of context? In this introduction to the Jefferson Memorial Education series for 8th-12th grade, students learn about the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission and are introduced to the selection process for the inscriptions on the chamber walls. Then they will begin to consider how editing a quotation can change its meaning. How does the design of a memorial affect how a person is remembered?
Jefferson Memorial at night photographed from across the Tidal Basin
Series: Jefferson Memorial Education Series: Quoting Out of Context?
When visitors enter the domed chamber of the Jefferson Memorial, they are surrounded by inscriptions meant to represent Thomas Jefferson's beliefs about liberty and democracy. Who chose the texts that appear on the walls? How do the inscriptions shape our understanding of Jefferson's philosophy? Is the memorial an example of quoting out of context?
Jefferson Memorial lit up at night from across the Tidal Basin
Jefferson Memorial Education Series: Each New Generation
In this education activity designed for 9th-12th graders, students compare an inscription in the Jefferson Memorial with the primary source text. How does the full context affect your understanding of Jefferson's argument? Students consider Jefferson's suggestion that each generation should have a chance to amend the state constitution, as well as his ideas for how to "collect voices" of the people. What changes would you make? How do you get your voice heard?
Jefferson Memorial interior wall inscription in bronze block letters
Jefferson Memorial Education Series: Religious Freedom
In this education activity for 7th-12th grade, students examine the inscription on the northeast interior wall of the Jefferson Memorial and compare it to the primary source documents from which it is quoted, the Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom and a letter from Jefferson to James Madison, written a decade later. Students explore how context affects their understanding of the text and are invited to write their own inscription using the same text.
Inscription on northwest wall of Jefferson Memorial in bronze block letters
Jefferson Memorial Education Series: 97 Words, 5 Primary Sources
The inscription on the northeast wall of the Jefferson Memorial is a conglomeration of words and sentences pulled from five different sources. Does it accurately represent Thomas Jefferson's beliefs about slavery and liberty? In this education activity for 8th-12th graders, students will compare the inscription with the primary sources and analyze the meaning of the quote in context and then compose their own inscription. How should the memorial present slavery?
Jefferson Memorial interior wall inscription in bronze block letters
NAMA Notebook: Summer!
Independence Day is one of the biggest events on the National Mall. The park includes many sites connected to the Declaration of Independence and the nation's birthday, including one hidden gem that you might not know about. It's one of the Education Team's favorite sites to talk about!
Night sky above National Mall lit up with fireworks
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Accessibility and Exhibit Improvements
The National Park Service is improving accessibility and visitor services at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial! The chamber of the memorial and the statue of Thomas Jefferson will remain open and accessible for the duration of the project.
Aerial view of a white marble building with columns.
Guide to the Frank T. and Charles T. Chapman Collection
This finding aid describes the Frank T. and Charles T. Chapman Collection, part of the National Capital Regional Office Museum Collection.
Charles T. Chapman