Categories: Sightseeing / Travel
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is by far my favorite memorial in DC. My ex-before-last and I were mesmerized by it during our 2nd installment of the nation’s capital. DC is such a great city for touring the city by foot, and we covered the sites we missed the 1st time.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial
We immediately noticed how unique it is — a circular building with a dome and columns in front
Just before we skipped up the steps to go inside
The memorial was undergoing repairs but that didn’t stop us or the other visitors
View from the steps when we turned around
Once you walk in, there’s a 19-foot, bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson in the center of the chamber
Then you see all the walls engraved with excerpts from Jefferson’s writings. It was absolutely beautiful inside. You can’t help but be inspired once you begin reading.
“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 honour.”
“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.”
“I am 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.”
“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.”
The inscription just below the dome reads, “I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.”
To view photo in Flickr, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/yummies4tummies/5484233563
Part of the dome
I could have stayed in there forever
Looking across the Tidal Basin…on our way to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
We took the lonnnng way around to the FDR Memorial, oopsie! LOL
Stay tuned for BBQ at Germantown Commissary Monster Tractors!
Tweet
Tags: Discussion
One comment for “Thomas Jefferson Memorial”
Post a comment
Most Views on Flickr
Most Pinned Recipes
Most Facebook Likes
Most Instagram Likes
Most YouTube Views
San Diego
Oahu (Hawaii)
Memphis
Washington D.C.
San Antonio
Chocoooooolate!
Arkansas
Florida
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Austin (Texas)
Baltimore
Delaware
The Jefferson memorial is my favorite as well. It is less grand and awe inspiring than the other major monuments, but is much more suited to contemplation of the man being memorialized and his life.