"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." These words penned
by Thomas Jefferson in 1776 have inspired
Americans and others around the world for
generations. The primary author of the Declaration
of Independence, diplomat, secretary, vice
president, and third president of the United
States is immortalized here on the south side
of the Tidal Basin directly south of the house
he inhabited from 1801 to 1809. Embodying
his love of architecture - and the dome specifically
- the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is modeled
off of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy. Surrounding
the nineteen-foot bronze statue of Jefferson
in the rotunda of the memorial are selections
of writings from Jefferson's life covering
topics from religious freedom to public education.
Here we remember the man who put into the
words the emotions felt by Americans at the
dawn of our nation. The words in this memorial
speak to America's idea that freedom is a
right. It provokes reflection and discussion
on the relationship between people and their
government then and now. With this memorial,
we reflect on an architect of our republic
and the values on which our nation was founded.
