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By 1930, there were monuments in Washington commemorating great United States presidents such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. President Franklin Roosevelt thought that Thomas Jefferson also deserved a monument.
In 1934, following his initiative, Congress passed a resolution to create a monument commemorating Jefferson. The memorial was designed by John Russell Pope (1874 - 1937), the architect of the original (west) building of the National Gallery of Art. It reflects characteristics of buildings designed by Jefferson such as Monticello and the Rotunda, which were a result of his fascination with Roman architecture. It bears a close resemblance to the Pantheon of Rome. The cornerstone was laid in 1939Events January-June January 2 End of term for Frank Finley Merriam, 28th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Culbert Levy Olson. January 24 Earthquake kills 30. 000 in Chile about 50. 000 sq mi razed January 26 Falangists take Barcelona January 26 and the monument cost slightly more than $3 million.
It was officially dedicated on April 13April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). There are 262 days remaining. It is also the Ides of April. Events 1055 Victor II is consecrated pope 1111 Henry V is crowned Holy Roman Emperor 1180 Frederick Barbaros, 19431943 is the common year starting on Friday. Events January January 4 End of term for Culbert Olson, 29th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Earl Warren. January 11 The United States and United Kingdom give up territorial rights in China. January 1, after Pope's death and on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth. One of the last American public monuments in the Beaux-ArtsBeaux Arts was an architectural style that was popular in the early twentieth century. The name comes from the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris where this style was practised. The emphasis was towards producing quick sketch schemes involving beautiful drawin tradition, it was severely criticised even as it was being built, by those who adhered to the modernist argument that dressing 20th-century buildings like Greek and Roman temples constituted a "tired architectural lie." More than 60 years ago, Pope responded with silence to critics who dismissed him as part of an enervated architectural elite practicing "styles that are safely dead".
The interior of the memorial has a 19 foot tall, 10,000 pound bronzeBronze is the traditional name for a broad range of alloys of copper, usually with zinc and tin but not limited to those metals. First used during the Bronze Age, to which it gave its name, bronze made tools, weapons and armor that were either harder or m statue of Jefferson which was added four years after the dedication, and the interior walls are engraved with passages from Jefferson's writings. Most prominent are the words which are inscribed around the monument near the roof: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This sentence is taken from a September 23September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). There are 99 days remaining. Also an important date in pagan history celebrating fall. Events 490 BC Battle of Marathon; origin of marathon long-distance race (run by Phidippides) 1459 The B, 1800Events March 14 Cardinal Barnaba Chiaramonti is elected pope Pius VII. March 21 Pius VII becomes Pope April 24 US Library of Congress founded. May 15 Napoleon Bonaparte crosses the Alps and invades Italy. June 14 Battle of Marengo, Napoleon defeats the Au letter by Jefferson to Dr. Benjamin Rush.
The 129 foot dome is 4 feet thick and the memorial weighs 32,000 tons.
The site of the monument in West Potomac Park, on the shore of the Potomac River Tidal Basin, is enhanced with the massed planting of Japanese cherry trees, the gift of the people of Japan in 1912.
The monument is not as prominent in popular culture as other Washington DC buildings and monuments. A character visits the memorial at the end of the film Bob Roberts. In an episode of The Simpsons, Lisa Simpson visits the memorial and Jefferson laments "No one ever comes to see me. I don't blame them. I never did anything important. Just the Declaration of Independence, the Louisiana Purchase, the dumbwaiter ...Wait! Please don't go. I get so lonely..."