Description:
The Jefferson Memorial is located on the south side of the Tidal Basin on land that was reclaimed during the development of Hains Point. Before the memorial was establishment, the area in which it was built on had become newly created parkland which had trees and lawns planted. The area was utilized for swimming for the local residents. The construction of the memorial concluded between 1939 and 1943, the original architect was John Russell Pope. Pope focused primarily on neoclassical architecture and this suited with the uniformity of Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.’s Beaux Arts landscape that works with well-treed pastoral grounds.
The Jefferson Memorial building was built as a circular, open-air structure that has a shallow dome which is braced by a circular colonnade that is made up of 26 Ionic columns. The north portico has an additional 12 columns as well as 4 columns at each of the memorials 4 openings. The memorial is made of white Imperial Danby marble which was exported from Vermont and it rest on a foundation of granite and marble stepped terraces. The stairs and platforms are carved out of granite and marble which led up to a portico that had a triangular pediment that hosts a sculpture by Adolph A. Weinman. The sculpture displays the five members of the drafting committee of the Declaration of Independence proposing their report to Congress.
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General History:
In 1912, Japanese cherry trees were planted at site when Mayor of Tokyo visited Washington D.C and gifted three thousand trees. The memorial landscape was designed by the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial was inspired by the Pantheon of Rome. This memorial is America's is a leading memorial to honor the third president of the United States. Derived from Neoclassical architecture, it serves a vital landmark in the monument culture of Washington, D.C. This structure’s circular, colonnaded form was first introduced in America by Thomas Jefferson. With that, Architect John Russell Pope utilized Jefferson's own architectural tastes when developing the design of the Memorial. With the untimely death of Pope in August 1937, Architects Daniel P. Higgins and Otto R. Eggers gained the responsibility of finishing the monument.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission was established to push for the construction of a memorial for Thomas Jefferson by an Act of Congress that was endorsed on June of 1934. The location, in which the memorial currently stands, at the Tidal Basin was chosen in 1937. Although, criticism arse from the general public of Washington D. C. when this site was selected because it resulted in the removal of the Japanese flowering cherry trees. Further debates enveloped when it came to selecting of the design of the Memorial. The Commission of Fine Arts argued that the pantheon design would compete with the Lincoln Memorial. Members of the Thomas Jefferson Commission took their proposal to President Franklin D. Roosevelt who agreed with the pantheon design and allowed permission to proceed in the development of the design. On November 15, 1939, the cornerstone ceremony for the memorial took place and the stone was planted by President Roosevelt
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Symbolism/Analysis:
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The Jefferson Memorial is situated in a prominent position as it served as the southern anchor of the District’s meridian line. The memorial is also on axis with the White House and harmonizes with the cross-axis of the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.’s Beaux Arts landscape was simple design that involved a circular driveway with evergreen trees and limited flowering trees and shrubs. However, his design was seen as not enough thus white pines were introduced and variety of other plantings occured before the dedication in 1943. Olmsted's plans underwent serious changes in the 1970s. In 1993 and 2000, restorations took place in attempt to restore the integrity of Olmsted's altered design. These alterations include a foreshortened landscape just south of the memorial and this was because of a highway expansion. Another alteration as the reconfiguring of the circular drive and north plaza as well as the increasing of security perimeters.
In 1941, Rudolph Evans was assigned to create the statue of Thomas Jefferson. The positing of the statue gazes from the interior of the Memorial and is facing toward the White House. This was meant to represent the Age of Enlightenment and depict two of Jefferson’s many roles, a philosopher and statesman. The bronze statue is 19 feet in height and weighs approximately five tons. Adolph A. Weinman's sculpture shows the five members that were apart of the drafting committee for the Declaration of Independence drafting committee contending their report to Congress and this is standing on a triangular pediment. Decorating the interior walls of the Memorial are five quotes that come from Jefferson's writings that represent the ideals that he dedicated his life. The words from these quotations come from various texts. One of these quotes expresses his thoughts on the right to religious freedom. Another quote shows the significance of altering laws to keep up to date with the changing times.
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