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The Jefferson Memorial

Tidal Basin, Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Monuments & Landmarks
National Mall, Tidal Basin

The Jefferson Memorial is currently undergoing renovations. Most of the memorial will remain open during the work, although the east side will be used for construction staging. The project is expected to be completed around May 2020.

Sitting on the southern axis of the National Mall, opposite the White House and Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial sits on the bank of Tidal Basin on reclaimed land on was once part of the Potomac.

A classical domed structure of the kind that Jefferson made famous in the United States after his stay in France, the structure anchored at its center by an oversized statue of Thomas Jefferson. It’s an open air memorial and, like the Lincoln Memorial, open 24 hours.

The Jefferson Memorial is at its photogenic best during late-March through early-April during the blooming of the cherry blossoms that ring the Tidal Pool.

The West Lawn of the Jefferson Memorial is one of only three locations in the National Mall and Memorial Parks system where wedding ceremonies are permitted (with a permit). The others are the nearby George Mason Memorial and the DC War Memorial/World War I Memorial.

And you might have noticed that the dome of the Jefferson Memorial is mostly dark and tarnished but there’s a wide strip that’s clean. That’s due to a test that the NPS was conducting of a laser treatment to remove the biofilm that creates that tarnished look (otherwise known as a colony of microscopic organisms that adheres to stone surfaces). The test was successful and will presumably lead to some as-yet-announced treatment program of the rest of the dome.

Photos of the Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial, Washington DC

Silhouette of the Statue of Thomas Jefferson at the Jefferson Memorial

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2017 - March 24

DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update: April 11, 2018

Jefferson Memorial from the Tidal Basin Water Level

Thomas Jefferson Statue in Jefferson Memorial Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in the Mist

Rising Sun with the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial Wide-angle with Statue and Ceiling

Jefferson Memorial in the Snow

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms

Jefferson Memorial in Golden Light Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Washignton DC Cherry Blossoms - February 28, 2017

Jefferson Memorial and Cherry Blossoms - April 12, 2015

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 26, 2016

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms - March 7, 2017

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Thomas Jefferson Statue in Jefferson Memorial Washington DC

Swan Paddle Boats with Jefferson Memorial

Cherry Blossoms - April 12, 2015

Clouds Just Before Sunrise at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Pink Skies Before Dawn at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial with blue sky

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Pink Skies Before Dawn at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial in Under Threatening Skies in Washington DC

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Jefferson Memorial April 11, 2015 Before Dawn

Sunrise at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

Jefferson Memorial Wide-Angle with Tourists

360° Virtual Tours

 

 

 

Getting Here

The best way to get to the Jefferson Memorial is by Metro. The closest stop is Smithsonian (0.8 miles) (Orange line). Metro has a handy Trip Planner and here’s a map of the Metro lines.

There is a small parking lot on the eastern side of the Tidal Pool near the Jefferson Memorial. (This parking lot is closed off during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.) There’s more parking on the opposite side of the Tidal Pool along the Potomac, extending all the way along Hains Point, including some convenient parking lots at the foot of the 14th Street Bridge.

Official Website

http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm

For Photographers

rating-4Tripods are allowed around the memorial grounds and around the Tidal Pool but not inside the memorial itself. There’s no problem using a flash. No reservations or tickets are required–you can wander around at will.

The Jefferson Memorial never closes and does not require tickets or reservations–you can just wander in and around the Memorial any time of the day or night.

Nearby & Related:

  • George Mason Memorial Reflection in Washington DC
    George Mason Memorial
  • Pentagon Memorial with flowers
    Pentagon Memorial
  • World War One Memorial in the Snow
    District of Columbia World War I Memorial
  • Vietnam Memorial, Washington DC, at Sunrise
    Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  • Statue of FDR
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
  • DC Cherry Blossom Watch Update - April 4, 2018
    How-to Guide: Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument through Round Portals

Washington DC Visitor Guides

If you're coming in from out of town, here are some of the most popular guidebooks that can help you make the most of your visit.

Frommer's EasyGuide to Washington, D.C. 2019
Frommer's EasyGuide to Washington, D.C. 2019
  • Ford, Elise Hartman (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon
DK Eyewitness Family Guide Washington, DC (Travel Guide)
DK Eyewitness Family Guide Washington, DC (Travel Guide)
  • DK Eyewitness (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon
Fodor's Washington, D.C. 25 Best 2020 (Full-color Travel Guide)
Fodor's Washington, D.C. 25 Best 2020 (Full-color Travel Guide)
  • Fodor's Travel Guides (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon
MallSmart Washington DC Map by VanDam -- Laminated City Street pocket map...
MallSmart Washington DC Map by VanDam -- Laminated City Street pocket map...
  • Stephan, Van Dam (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon

And here are some interesting options for less traditional guidesbooks if you'd like an emphasis on exploring DC on foot or diving into some of the region's rich history.

National Geographic Walking Washington, D.C. (National Geographic Walking...
National Geographic Walking Washington, D.C. (National Geographic Walking...
  • NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
  • Kennedy, Barbara Noe (Author)
Check Price on Amazon
A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy...
A History Lover's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Designed for Democracy...
  • Fortier, Alison (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
Check Price on Amazon

David Coleman Photography

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit.


Location: Jefferson Memorial
Coordinates:
      Latitude: 38.881397
      Longitude: -77.036497

      # Monuments & Landmarks
      # National Mall
      # Tidal Basin



About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find more of my work at havecamerawilltravel.com.

And if you’re visiting DC in the spring, be sure to check out my DC Cherry Blossom Watch site.

David Coleman Photography

I’m a professional travel & location photographer based in Washington DC and traveling all over. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing Images

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
All images are registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.


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