Discover the Secrets: Top 11 Fun and Surprising Facts About the Jefferson Memorial You Never Knew!

1. Cherry Blossom Connection

Did you hear about the cherry on top of Jefferson's Whiskey Rebellion sundae? It was a sweet gift from Japan: The Jefferson Memorial sits near the spot where First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda planted two Yoshino cherry trees in 1912, commemorating Japan's donation of 3,000 cherry trees to the US and giving birth to the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.
Source => loc.gov

2. Walls That Whisper Wisdom

They say that walls can't talk, but at the Jefferson Memorial, they whisper sweet wisdom in your ears: housing inscriptions of Thomas Jefferson's influential quotes, this esteemed monument stands testament to his inspiring words, eternal hostility against tyranny, and unwavering advocacy for freedom of religion.
Source => nps.gov

Discover the unique symbolism behind the stunning architecture of the Lincoln Memorial, featuring majestic columns representing Union States crafted from Colorado Yule marble. You won't believe the incredible detail!

=> Fun Facts about The-Lincoln-Memorial

3. April Showers Bring Monumental Birthdays

When April showers don't just bring May flowers, but also monumental birthdays: The Jefferson Memorial was officially dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 13, 1943, coinciding with Thomas Jefferson's 200th birthday.
Source => 123helpme.com

4. Pigs Fly for Jefferson Memorial

When pigs fly and the Jefferson Memorial is finally finished: Turns out pigs took flight in 1943 when the Memorial's construction wrapped up 20 years after it began, even dodging World War II's attempt to abandon it, all in time to celebrate Thomas Jefferson's 200th birthday.
Source => loc.gov

5. Swivel Chair Inventor Extraordinaire

Before chairs had trust issues and commitment problems, a genius took a stand to set them free: Thomas Jefferson, the revered founding father and President of the USA, also invented the swivel chair, proving his brilliance extended beyond politics and architecture into the realm of office furniture innovation.
Source => travelmate.tech

6. Declaration-Clutching Metallic Marvel

Step aside, David: there's a new statue in town, and he wrote the Declaration of Independence! Behold the metal masterpiece that towers above all other bronze beings: The 19-foot-tall Thomas Jefferson dons this metallic marvel, clutching the Declaration in his left hand atop a black Minnesota granite pedestal. Graced with dates of his birth and death, the pedestal not only signs his lifestyle contract but also supports this founding father figure. Enclosed by columns and walls showcasing quotes from Jefferson himself, one even boasts his eternal swearsies against tyranny: taken from an 1800 letter to Benjamin Rush and inscribed on the memorial's frieze, the vow reads, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
Source => nps.gov

7. Tempest in a Cherry Tree Teapot

With all the delicious cherry on top drama of a soap opera, Americans bickered over the relocation of beloved trees, creating quite the tempest in a teapot at the Jefferson Memorial construction site: Despite protests on removing rare elm and cherry trees (including some gifts from Japan in 1912), builders found a way to harmoniously include the blossoms in the final design, resulting in the breathtaking scenery we admire every spring today.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Heavy Metal WWII Delay

Talk about a heavy metal World War II delay: Thomas Jefferson's colossal bronze doppelgänger had to kick its heels till the war was over, as metal restrictions kept it grounded. The serious reveal: Rudulph Evans, the creator behind the 19-foot-tall statue standing proudly in the Jefferson Memorial, won against 100 other entries in a nationwide contest conducted by the Memorial Commission and finally completed the masterpiece after WWII, depicting Jefferson in his prime, clutching the cherished Declaration of Independence.
Source => nps.gov

9. Construction Controversy Can't Stop Popularity

Well, even Thomas Jefferson wasn't immune to a little construction controversy in his day: Erected amidst heated debate, the Jefferson Memorial was finally completed in 1943, and has since become one of the three most visited presidential memorials in Washington, D.C., attracting an average of 2,313,163 visitors annually between 2008 and 2012.
Source => parade.com

10. Roman-Inspired Presidential Fashion

Who would’ve thought that Tommy J was a fan of Roman architectural fashion? That's right, our man with the quill had a marble mansion built in his honor, and it's straight out of the old-world Italian playbook: The Thomas Jefferson Memorial, designed by architect John Russell Pope, takes its inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome, featuring a circular dome, grand steps, and Ionic columns. Inside, a 19-foot tall bronze statue of Jefferson by sculptor Rudolph Evans stands proudly, surrounded by the statesman's poignant words engraved into the marble. And as a cherry (blossom) on top, visit the site in late March or early April to witness the Yoshino cherry trees adorning the Tidal Basin with their ethereal pink blooms.
Source => aaa.com

11. Cherry Tree Rebellion’s Blossoming Determination

Dethroning some cherries for the greater good: In 1938, a defiant group of women waged a passionate "Cherry Tree Rebellion," protesting the construction of the Jefferson Memorial through dramatic means – chaining themselves to trees destined for uprooting. Despite their blossoming determination, the construction continued, and the memorial was inaugurated on Thomas Jefferson's 200th birthday, April 13, 1943.
Source => nps.gov