Jefferson Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial is a neoclassical monument in Washington, D.C., honoring Thomas Jefferson. Its circular, domed design draws on classical architecture and Jefferson’s own architectural interests.

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Thomas Jefferson: Thomas Jefferson was the third president of the United States and a principal author of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial honors Jefferson and reflects his work as an architect and advocate of classical design.
Franklin D. Roosevelt: Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 to 1945. Roosevelt supported the memorial and took part in its cornerstone ceremony in 1939.
Declaration of Independence: The Declaration of Independence is the 1776 statement in which the American colonies announced their separation from Great Britain. Its language appears in the memorial, linking Jefferson’s authorship to national ideals.
Statue of Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Memorial): The statue of Thomas Jefferson is a bronze figure by Rudolf Evans installed in the memorial’s central chamber. Its placement makes Jefferson the focal point beneath the dome.
Neoclassical architecture: Neoclassical architecture revives forms and principles associated with ancient Greek and Roman buildings. Its symmetry, columns, dome, and rotunda define the memorial’s visual language.
Commission of Fine Arts: The United States Commission of Fine Arts advises the federal government on the design of public buildings and monuments in Washington, D.C. The commission reviewed the memorial’s design and its fit within the capital’s monumental landscape.
United States Constitution: The United States Constitution is the supreme law establishing the federal government and defining its powers. The memorial’s inscriptions present Jefferson’s constitutional-era political thought alongside his declaration of rights.
Jefferson Memorial inscriptions: The Jefferson Memorial inscriptions are excerpts from Jefferson’s writings carved into the monument’s interior walls. They make selected political principles part of the building’s permanent visual program.
Pantheon, Rome: The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple in Rome, famous for its domed rotunda and central oculus. Its rotunda inspired the memorial’s circular interior and domed form.
National Mall: The National Mall is a landscaped civic space in central Washington, D.C., containing major monuments and museums. The memorial forms part of the wider national landscape of presidential monuments and federal institutions.