Thomas Jefferson Memorial
National Mall—sample rating
AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a presidential monument on the south bank of the Tidal Basin, dedicated in 1943 on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson's birth. Designed by John Russell Pope in a neoclassical style inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and Jefferson's own architectural tastes, it features a 19-foot bronze statue of Jefferson by Rudulph Evans, surrounded by excerpts from his writings, including the Declaration of Independence. The memorial sits amid Washington's famous Japanese cherry trees, gifted by Japan in 1912, making it a centerpiece of the National Cherry Blossom Festival each spring. Like other National Mall memorials, it is free, unstaffed by ticketing, and open around the clock, with the best photographic views from across the Tidal Basin, especially at sunrise.
Why visit
It offers a serene, architecturally striking tribute to Jefferson and some of the best cherry blossom views in the city.
Best time to visit
Visit during peak cherry blossom season (late March-early April) at sunrise, or in the evening when illuminated.
Recommended duration
Allow about 0.8 hours (45 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 00:00-23:59
Open 24 hours; staffed by rangers roughly 9:30am-11:30pm. No tickets required.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
16 Daniel French Dr SW, Washington, DC 20242
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Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
A memorial featuring 19 stainless steel soldier statues advancing through juniper bushes, honoring those who served in the Korean War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
Mediterranean · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Ben's Chili Bowl
American / Comfort Food · $ · U Street
Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
Balkan · $$ · Capitol Hill
Centrolina
Italian · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Maketto
Cambodian / Taiwanese · $$ · Capitol Hill
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