For me, the Jefferson Memorial is the best memorial in Washington, DC.

The best you say, with so many memorials? Yes the best. I love the design, the placement and the lighting. Some forty years ago when I was working from offices in Maryland I would come to see the memorials and museums in D.C. on weekends. The Jefferson Memorial was always mesmerizing after dark with its lighting, breathtaking indeed. The Jefferson Memorial faces the tidal basin and holds a key position in the flurry of monuments. The Washington towers into the skyline of Washington. The Lincoln Memorial is huge and so

powerful, yet the Jefferson Memorial continues to be my personal top choice. To see it up close is humbling. To soak up the history of this monument is overwhelming! Thomas Jefferson was the second vice-president of the United States and the third President of The United States. He is credited with doing most of the writing for the Declaration of Independence and the Bill for Rights. He was definitely a prolific publisher.

Be sure to look up George Mason, as he was the key mentor to Jefferson and his writings. Mr. Mason was the man behind the man. He is remarkable and has a small memorial a few hundred yards from the Jefferson Memorial. Mason wrote a Declaration of Rights for Virginia in 1776. This was the framework and basis for our Bill of Rights that is credited to Jefferson. Jefferson has a whole lot of history. He was also the Governor of Virginia too! Be sure to explore everything and to go downstairs.

Library of Congress Burned

In 1814 during the British attack on Washington, The Library of Congress was burned. Jefferson donated all of his personal documents to recreate as much of our history as possible. It is little wonder then that so much history is reflected from his documents and writings. There is an inspiring display of quotations and more. There is also a gift shop filled with Jefferson memorabilia for the collectors. The inscriptions are all worthy of thought and this man’s legacy is definitely a huge part of history for all of us! An Absolutely, Positively, Must see Memorial when in Washington DC