JEFFERSON MEMORIAL DEDICATED
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 13, 1943, the Jefferson Memorial* was dedicated here in the Nation's Capital. The impressive memorial, dedicated on the anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth, was designed by architect John Russell Pope*.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the memorial's cornerstone on November 15, 1939 and gave the dedication speech. FDR concluded with the words:
"The words which we have chosen for this memorial speak Jefferson's noblest and most urgent meaning and we are proud indeed to understand and share it: 'I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man'".
*John Russell Pope (1874-1937) was born in New York City & studied at Columbia University. JRP designed the National Archives Building, Jefferson Memorial & West Building of the National Gallery of Art, all located in Washington, D.C.
SOURCES
"Jefferson Memorial," Washington, D.C. National Park Service. www.nps.gov/
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 13, 1943, the Jefferson Memorial* was dedicated here in the Nation's Capital. The impressive memorial, dedicated on the anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth, was designed by architect John Russell Pope*.
The memorial is modeled after the Parthenon and the 19 foot tall, 5 ton statue of Mr. Jefferson inside was sculpted by Rudolph Evans**.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt laid the memorial's cornerstone on November 15, 1939 and gave the dedication speech. FDR concluded with the words:
"The words which we have chosen for this memorial speak Jefferson's noblest and most urgent meaning and we are proud indeed to understand and share it: 'I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man'".
*John Russell Pope (1874-1937) was born in New York City & studied at Columbia University. JRP designed the National Archives Building, Jefferson Memorial & West Building of the National Gallery of Art, all located in Washington, D.C.
**Rudolph Evans (1878-1960) was born in Washington, D.C. & grew up in Front Royal, VA. RE studied in France & in 1918 became a member of the National Academy of Design. His work includes the statue of Robert E. Lee in the Virginia State Capitol.
SOURCES
"Jefferson Memorial," Washington, D.C. National Park Service. www.nps.gov/
"Thomas Jefferson, a Brief Biography", Thomas Jefferson Monitcello, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc., www.monticello.org/
Thomas Jefferson Statue
Jefferson Memorial
Washington, D.C. (2013)
Photo by Ingfbruno
www.wikimedia.org.
Jefferson Memorial
Photo by John White (2007)