Jefferson Monument (Louisville, Kentucky) facts for kids
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The Jefferson Monument is a famous statue created by Moses Jacob Ezekiel. You can find it outside the Louisville Metro Hall in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. This monument honors Thomas Jefferson, one of America's most important founding fathers.
Contents
History of the Statue
How the Statue Was Made
The statue of Thomas Jefferson was finished in 1899 by a sculptor named Sir Moses Ezekiel. It was ordered to be one of two statues for the outside of the Jefferson County Courthouse. The other statue honors King Louis XIV of France.
When the Statue Arrived in Louisville
The Jefferson statue was given to the city of Louisville in November 1901. It was a gift from the Bernheim Brothers. They were wealthy businessmen who cared a lot about their city. The statue was officially shown to the public at a special event. Important people like former Governor of Kentucky William O'Connell Bradley and Mayor Charles P. Weaver gave speeches. The statue stands on Jefferson Street, right in front of the Jefferson County Court House.
What the Statue Looks Like
The Statue of Jefferson Himself
The statue of Thomas Jefferson is made of bronze and stands about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall. It shows him at age 33. This is the moment he presented the Declaration of Independence to the First Congress. The artist did a great job showing this important historical moment.
The Unique Pedestal
An interesting part of the monument is its bronze base, called a pedestal. This pedestal looks like the famous Liberty Bell. It is also about 9 feet (2.7 meters) tall and nearly 10 feet (3 meters) wide.
Figures on the Pedestal
On the outside of this bell-shaped pedestal, there are four figures. These figures represent important ideas: Liberty, Equality, Justice, and the Brotherhood of Man.
- Liberty: This figure is at the front of the pedestal. It shows the Goddess of Liberty moving forward and breaking chains from her arms. Her flowing clothes and strong movement are shown very clearly.
- Justice: This figure has a blindfold over her eyes. She holds a sword in one hand and scales in the other. This shows that justice should be fair to everyone.
- Equality: This female figure is shown getting rid of old laws that were unfair. She is stepping on the Stamp Act, which was a tax that angered American colonists.
Materials and Artists
The bottom part of the monument is made from dark Quincy granite. This stone came from the Quincy Granite Quarries in Quincy, Massachusetts. All parts of the granite are highly polished. The main block of stone is 10 feet (3 meters) square and 5 feet (1.5 meters) high. It rests on steps, with the lowest step being 19 feet (5.8 meters) square. The entire monument stands about 25 feet (7.6 meters) tall.
Clarke & Loomis from Louisville were the architects who built the monument. The bronze parts were made in Berlin, Germany. Sir Moses Ezekiel designed the granite pedestal and created the models for the statues at his art studio in Rome, Italy.
A smaller copy of this monument can be found at the University of Virginia.
Images for kids
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1902 photo of the Thomas Jefferson statue by Moses Jacob Ezekielin Louisville, Kentucky.
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Thomas Jefferson statue in front of the Louisville Metro Hall
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A smaller replica of the Louisville status, the Thomas Jefferson Monument (1910) by Ezekiel stands at the University of Virginia
