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Thomas Jefferson, tombstone and grave, Monticello Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia, historic photo

Thomas Jefferson, tombstone grave, Monticello Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia, historic photo, one

A historic photo view of the tombstone and grave of Thomas Jefferson, Monticello Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia. The tombstone pictured here is actually the second tombstone which was erected in 1883. The original tombstone of the same design had numerous chips removed by souvenir collectors. The original tombstone was donated in 1885 by the Jefferson family to the University of Missouri where it is displayed on the Francis Quadrangle of the university campus.

A second photo of the tombstone from another angle is included at the bottom of this page.

Jefferson left specific instructions for the design and inscription for his tombstone:

"On the grave, a plain die or cube of 3.f without any mouldings, surmounted by an Obelisk of 6.f height, each of a single stone.

On the faces of the Obelisk the following inscription, & not a word more

Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independance
of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom
& Father of the University of Virginia."

(Note he did not include the fact that he had served as the third President of the United States, 1801-1809.)

Born April 13, 1743 [April 2, 1743 old style] at Shadwell, Virginia; died July 4, 1826 at Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia, age 83.

In one of the great ironies of history, the last two surviving signers of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both died on the the same day, July 4th, 1826, exactly fifty years to the day from July 4th, 1776.

Thomas Jefferson, tombstone grave, Monticello Cemetery, Charlottesville, Virginia, historic photo, two

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