Thomas Jefferson has provided many reasons why memorials are dedicated to him. He authored the Declaration of Independence, was instrumental in leading the Colonies to independence, was Ambassador to France, served as the third president of the United States and founded the University of Virginia.
He was an inventor and innovator in every area of his life and a passionate servant of his country. He died on July 4, 1826, 50 years to the day after America's independence.
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Americans who enjoy visiting presidential memorials can usually find tributes to Jefferson close by. Jefferson has had schools, parks, cities, highways, mountains, and almost anything else imaginable named after him.
The Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. is a large rotunda fashioned in the neoclassical style, and it contains a statue of Jefferson. The memorial was dedicated by President Roosevelt in 1943, but the original statue of President Jefferson was made of plaster. After the end of World War II, the restrictions on metals were lifted and Jefferson's statue was replaced with one made of bronze.
One of the most beautiful monuments to Jefferson is the one he built — his home, Monticello, located in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Construction on the house began in 1769 and continued until 1809. Jefferson had a creative mind in all his endeavors, and his house was built and rebuilt continuously for forty years. Today it is a graceful memorial with thirty-three rooms surrounded by historic gardens.
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Another famous memorial to Jefferson is the University of Virginia which he founded in 1819, an act he considered one of his most impressive accomplishments. Jefferson's vision for the university was that it would educate young people in practical matters and public service, forming them into leaders in all areas of American life. It was the first university in America to be free of religious or political affiliation.
Jefferson is included in the breathtaking sculpture created on Mount Rushmore, located in the Badlands of South Dakota. The "Shrine of Democracy" sculpture was carved by Gutzon Borglum, who began the project in 1921, carving the faces of four presidents, including Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
It was finally finished in 1941.
According to History.com, Borglum used innovative new techniques involving dynamite and pneumatic hammers to remove the 450,000 tons of rock needed to create the sculpture. Each face is 60 feet tall and the sculpture reaches 185 feet across the face of the mountain. More than 2 million people visit the site each year.
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