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mahatmakanejeeves

(57,740 posts)
Wed Nov 15, 2017, 03:25 PM Nov 2017

On this day in 1939, Franklin Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial
....

Construction

Construction began on December 15, 1938, and the cornerstone was laid on November 15, 1939, by Franklin Roosevelt. By this point Pope had died (1937) and his surviving partners, Daniel P. Higgins and Otto R. Eggers, took over construction of the memorial. The design was modified at the request of the Commission of Fine Arts to a more conservative design.

Construction commenced amid significant opposition. The Commission of Fine Arts never actually approved any design for the Memorial and even published a pamphlet in 1939 opposing both the design and site of the Memorial. In addition, many Washingtonians opposed the site because it was not aligned with L'Enfant's original plan. Finally, many well established elm and cherry trees had to be removed for construction. Construction continued amid the opposition.

In 1939, the Memorial Commission hosted a competition to select a sculptor for the planned statue in the center of the Memorial. They received 101 entries and chose six finalists. Of the six, Rudulph Evans was chosen as the main sculptor and Adolph A. Weinman was chosen to sculpt the pediment relief situated above the entrance.

I don't know what this has to do with Portland, Oregon, but here goes:

CORNERSTONE LAID ON THIS DAY IN 1939
....



President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivering a speech at The Jefferson Memorial cornerstone laying.



President Roosevelt (center) and other dignitaries observe the laying of block number 208 at The Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
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On this day in 1939, Franklin Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2017 OP
When I was a senior in HS, a group of us went to DC. CrispyQ Nov 2017 #1
It's a long haul from all the other monuments. mahatmakanejeeves Nov 2017 #2
Well, this was about 40 years before that. lol. -nt CrispyQ Nov 2017 #3
I wish I could have seen such a great work built. defacto7 Nov 2017 #4

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,740 posts)
2. It's a long haul from all the other monuments.
Wed Nov 15, 2017, 04:53 PM
Nov 2017

Nowhere near a Metrorail station; inconvenient from a Metrobus stop. Bike, drive, or walk; that's about it.

Oh, wait; you can get there, via the DC Circulator National Mall route.

"The National Mall service began operating in June 2015."

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
4. I wish I could have seen such a great work built.
Wed Nov 15, 2017, 05:51 PM
Nov 2017

Here's hoping the significance of such a thing will be understood and cherished for centuries.

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