The Jefferson Memorial, the popular and majestic monument overlooking Washington’s Tidal Basin, is slated for an update that will address the “complexity” of America’s third president — reportedly including his history as a slave owner. Plans for the addition come amid a roiling debate nationwide over Confederate statues that foes say must come down because of their connection to slavery, stirring speculation over whether monuments to founding fathers who owned slaves could be next.
The memorial to Thomas Jefferson in Washington is almost certainly safe. But The Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, is planning an exhibit update—one that’s been in the works for months. “In the coming weeks and months, the physical symbols of American history and democracy will be scrutinized and challenged,” Catherine Townsend, president of the Trust for the National Mall, reportedly wrote in a letter to supporters. READ MORE
