T H O M A S   J E F F E R S O N   M E M O R I A L

Washington D.C.

Ahhh, here's the statue. Sculpted by artist Rudolph Evans, the 19-foot bronze statue wasn't completed until 4 years after the memorial's dedication. Why? Because of the war effort, of all things. At the dedication in 1943, the government had to erect a temporary plaster statue that was painted to look like it was made of bronze. At the time, metal shortages caused by the war effort forced a delay in the casting of the final statue.

Around the chamber walls I find the following inspirational inscriptions:

Taken from the Declaration of Independence, 1776

"Almighty God hath created the mind free…All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens…are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion…No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively."

Taken from a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush, September 23, 1800

"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We...solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states...And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

Letter to George Washington, January 4, 1786

"I am certainly not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors."

Taken from A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, 1777. The last sentence is taken from a letter to James Madison, August 28, 1789

"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? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than these people are to be free. Establish the law for educating the common people. This it is the business of the state to effect and on a general plan."

Before completing my tour of the memorial, I look up and see a towering dome. Made of Indiana limestone, the 80-foot ceiling sports an interesting, ornamental pattern. Actually, the memorial is made of many different materials. Its exterior walls and columns are Danby Imperial Marble, the interior floor is Tennessee pink marble, the interior wall panels are Georgian white marble, and the pedestal upon which Jefferson stands is Missouri gray marble.

Well, I've completed my quick tour of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. There's very little to see here at the memorial, but, what there is to see is certainly top-notch. I rate my tour of the memorial 4.5 thumbs, a very respectable rating.