Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Address:East Basin Drive SW
Washington, District of Columbia
Tel: (202) 426-6841

Come honor the author of the Constitution at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, located just across the Potomac River from the Washington Monument, is a testament to the beauty and elegance of Roman architecture as applied to American monuments, and is conveniently located just a short distance from the National Mall.

Built on the shore of the Potomac River's Tidal Basin, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial was one of the last presidential memorials to be dedicated, having been established in 1943. It is located directly south of the White House, with all the trees in between having been removed, as President Franklin Roosevelt wanted to see it every morning.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is composed of circular marble steps, a portico, a circular colonnade of Ionic columns, and a shallow dome, with a 19-foot bronze statue of President Jefferson atop a six-foot pedestal of black Minnesota granite. There are various statements from Jefferson's life inscribed on the inside of the memorial chamber. The placement of the memorial was crucial as, at the time of its construction, there was no spot available that would maintain the symmetry hoped for by Pierre L'Enfant, the architect of Washington, DC. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is host to tours conducted by National Park Service rangers. These tours can range from 20 to 30 minutes, though self-guided tours should take approximately the same amount of time. After the tour, visitors can treat themselves to the dozens of restaurants in downtown Washington, ranging from fast food and deli to seafood and Chinese.

To get to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, visitors can fly into any of the three major airports in Washington (Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, or Baltimore-Washington Airport) and take a cab or Metro from there. On the Metro, take the Orange line to Smithsonian Metro Station, and switch to the 52 bus towards 14th & Colorado. Get off at Southwest Independence Avenue and Southwest 14th Street. Walk approximately three quarters of a mile southwest to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. The history of America's road to independence is on display at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Don't miss it!