What are some fun facts about the Jefferson Memorial?
12 Things You Didn’t Know About the Jefferson Memorial
- THE PROPERTY WAS CREATED BY LANDFILL.
- IT WAS ONCE THE SITE OF ONE OF WASHINGTON’S MOST POPULAR BEACHES.
- ONE PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE DEDICATED THE MONUMENT TO VARIOUS ‘ILLUSTRIOUS MEN OF THE NATION.
- IT WAS ORIGINALLY A MEMORIAL TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Why is the Jefferson Memorial famous?
The Jefferson Memorial was built to commemorate Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), architect and principal author of the Declaration of the United States, esteemed as an advocate for national independence and personal spiritual freedom.
What is the Jefferson Memorial made of?
marble
The Jefferson Memorial interior is constructed of white Georgia marble with an axed finish, and the floor is made of pink Tennessee marble. The interior freize is topped by a dentiled cornice and a massive Indiana limestone dome.
How old is the Jefferson Memorial?
78c. 1943
Thomas Jefferson Memorial/Age
What’s underneath the Jefferson Memorial?
Most prominent are the words which are inscribed in a frieze below the dome: “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.” The inscription uses the word “inalienable”, as in Jefferson’s draft, rather than “unalienable”, as in the published Declaration.
Why does the Jefferson Memorial have 26 columns?
The memorial of Jefferson was dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt. The memorial is surrounded by 26 columns with represent the number of states in the union when Jefferson died.
Who built Jefferson Memorial?
John Russell Pope
Otto Reinhold EggersDaniel Paul Higgins
Thomas Jefferson Memorial/Architects
The neoclassical building is situated in West Potomac Park on the shore of the Potomac River. It was designed by John Russell Pope and built by Philadelphia contractor John McShain. Construction began in 1939 and was completed in 1943. The bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947.
What is the water in front of the Jefferson Memorial?
Tidal Basin
Surrounded by water, the structure is located on the National Mall’s Tidal Basin, a large body of water that is bordered by DC’s famous cherry blossom trees. On a moonlit night, the memorial creates a beautiful, shimmering image on the water, and in springtime, it’s joined by blooming cherry blossom trees.
Why is Jefferson Memorial dark?
It’s a microbial colony of fungi, algae and bacteria called biofilm. The microorganisms live within stone and thrive on sunlight, and they emit a black substance to protect themselves from solar radiation. They particularly like the tiny cracks and pores of stone monuments.
How is Jefferson memorialized?
On April 13, 1943, the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the completed memorial. Rudulph Evans’ bronze statue of Jefferson dominates the white marble interior of the memorial. The Memorial Commission chose Evans’ design from among 101 entries in a nationwide competition.
Why is the Jefferson Memorial deteriorating?
In most versions of the story, the erosion and degradation of the monuments were attributed to the use of the harsh chemicals needed to remove the bird droppings from the monument’s surfaces. Second, cleaning chemicals were not causing the lion’s share of the deterioration.
What are some interesting facts about the Jefferson Memorial?
The Jefferson Memorial covers a total land surface area of about 7,410 square meters (79,758 square feet). The memorial is constructed of white Imperial Danby marble from Vermont and it rests upon a series of granite and marble-stepped terraces.
What is Jefferson looking at in the Jefferson Memorial?
The memorial chamber has a 5.8-meter (19-foot) tall, 4336 kg (10,000 lb) bronze statue of Jefferson by the sculptor Rudulph Evans showing Jefferson looking back at the statue of Alexander Hamilton, a former rival of his. This statue was added four years after the dedication; Since wartime metal rationing was something that could not be overcome, the original 1943 Statue was made of plaster and coated with bronze-colored paint.
What words are on the Jefferson Memorial?
Inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. are Jefferson’s words, ‘The God Who gave us life gave us liberty — can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?’.
What does the Jefferson Memorial represent?
It was intended to represent the Age of Enlightenment and Jefferson as a philosopher and statesman. The Jefferson Memorial was officially dedicated by President Roosevelt on April 13, 1943, the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birthday.