The Thomas Jefferson Tombstone: Leaving Nothing to Chance
When it comes to summing up a life like Thomas Jefferson’s, you’d need at least three libraries, a couple of museums, and maybe a national park or two. After all, this is the man wrote the Declaration of Independence, masterminded the Louisiana Purchase, founded a university, and still found time to steal a piece of William Shakespeare’s chair.
When it came time to list his accomplishments on his tombstone, where do you start? Fortunately, the Sage of Monticello left nothing to chance and designed everything himself.
Contents
Jefferson’s Greatest Hits: What Made the Cut
Jefferson’s tombstone, according to his instructions, is a simple obelisk bearing a modest inscription of his “greatest hits.” Here’s what he wanted the world to know about him:
“Here was buried
Thomas Jefferson
Author of the Declaration of American Independence,
of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom,
& Father of the University of Virginia.”
Notice anything missing? It would seem that he forgot (and that seems highly unlikely) or just didn’t consider it important enough to mention that he also happened to serve as the third President of the United States?
Yep, not a mention. Apparently, drafting the blueprint for a new nation and founding a university did more to check the boxes on his bucket list than being the chief executive of a new republic. Fair enough.
A Grave Problem: Souvenir Seekers Strike Again
The tombstone was erected at Monticello seven years after Jefferson’s death in 1826, and for decades it stayed put, weathering time, tourists, and souvenir-seekers. And by “souvenir-seekers,” we mean people who literally chipped pieces off the obelisk. (Nothing screams “respect for the Founding Fathers” quite like taking a hammer to their gravesite.)
By 1883, Jefferson’s descendants had had enough and decided to donate the weathered marker to a new home: the University of Missouri.
Why Missouri? A Monumental Connection
Why Missouri, you ask? The answer isn’t entirely clear, but it wasn’t a completely random decision, either. Missouri was the first public university founded in the territory Jefferson acquired through the Louisiana Purchase—his proudest real estate deal. To sweeten the deal, the school’s design was inspired by Jefferson’s plans for the University of Virginia.
A Tale of Two Tombstones
Today, Jefferson’s original tombstone stands in front of the Residence on Francis Quadrangle at the University of Missouri in Columbia, proudly reminding passersby that, in life and death, Jefferson left his mark pretty much everywhere. Back at Monticello, a replica obelisk now marks his grave, ensuring that Jefferson’s carefully curated epitaph lives on.
Chipping Away at History
So, the next time you’re wandering through the University of Missouri campus, tip your hat to Jefferson’s tombstone. After all, it’s not every day you encounter a piece of history that managed to be immortalized in two places at once.
By the way: if you’re tempted to chip off a souvenir, Jefferson’s descendants may be watching. We just hope they aren’t confused about where their illustrious ancestor really is.
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