Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in Shadwell, Virginia. He was fluent in 5 languages and could read 2 others. He was a lawyer, agronomist, musician, scientist, philosopher, author, architect, inventor, and statesman. He was the 3rd President of the United States and the main writer of the Declaration of Independence. He also founded the University of Virginia.  He was married to Martha Wayles Skelton and had 6 kids but only 2 lived to adulthood. He home was called Monticello. He died July 4, 1826 at 83 years old from natural causes.

By: Kalin

The Jefferson Memorial is modeled after the Parthenon in Rome. Architect John Russell Pope designed the memorial after  Jefferson’s own designs. It was built in a way that would show Jefferson's contribution as a statesman, architect, President, drafter of the Declaration of Independence, advisor of the Constitution, and founder of the University of Virginia. Architects Daniel P. Higgins and Otto R. Eggers took over after John Pope died. Construction started in 1939 and was dedicated in 1943. Inside the memorial is a 19 foot tall, bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson. Around it, on the walls, are passages from the Declaration of Independence and Jefferson’s other writings. 

 

Here are some fun facts. Inside the memorial, there are passages of the Declaration of Independence on the southwest wall. There are writings by Jefferson about religious freedom, education, and institutional change on the other walls. The distance to the top of the dome is over 129 feet, and the thickness is 4 feet. The memorial weighs 32,000 tons. The design is similar to Jefferson’s home, Monticello. There are 26 pillars. The monument takes up 2.5 acres in the national mall.