More than 100 years ago, women in long dresses, men in silk hats and students parading with flags gathered proudly in Forest Park to celebrate.
The nation’s first Jefferson Memorial, sheltering a 9-foot-tall marble statue of a great Founder, was finished. Some schools and businesses closed for half a day to mark the happy occasion — a monument to the third president built with money from the 1904 World’s Fair.
The fair itself, of course, had honored the president’s acquisition of the Louisiana Territory, including the city of St. Louis and the future state of Missouri.
In a dramatic moment, a large U.S. flag was pulled off the statue.
“Behold one of the immortals,†David R. Francis, the fair’s director, said at the unveiling on April 30, 1913.
Oops. Fast-forward.
People are also reading…

LEFT: A descendent of Thomas Jefferson unveils a sculpture of the third president at the Jefferson Memorial on April 30, 1913, at its dedication. RIGHT: Missouri History Museum employees Matt Speckhard (left) and Thomas Sleet install a set of interpretive panels on April 26, 2022, beneath the statue of Jefferson. The panels provide historical context about Jefferson as a slave owner and the impacts of the Louisiana Purchase on Native Americans.Â
In the 21st century, those formerly glorious achievements and the primary writer of the nation’s Declaration of Independence are, if not tarnished, now held up to a different level of scrutiny.
In modern parlance: “It’s complicated.â€
Thomas Jefferson’s name is still carved on the building, but it’s now better known as the Missouri History Museum. His statue by Karl Bitter remains, but on Tuesday it acquires interpretive panels, which explain that the president fathered at least six children with a woman he enslaved.
The panels also depict land he bought from the French as the longtime home of Americans whose presence was inconvenient to white settlers. These Native Americans would be fought, killed or eventually removed to reservations.
“Should the Louisiana Purchase be celebrated?†one new 6-foot-long panel asks. Another says: “Can we still be moved by the words of Jefferson but horrified by his actions?â€
The panels, two years in the making, are part of the nation’s ongoing efforts to publicly reckon with flaws in men idealized as “immortal†heroes through monuments, statues, signs and the like.
The new panels show “a better history,†said , a history professor at Washington University and a museum trustee. “Times change. It was not only necessary and urgent, but a tremendous opportunity.â€
Kastor was part of an advisory committee for the panels, a project that also included input from at least 100 reviewers, including high school students.
Some thought the statue should be removed; others thought panels should focus on Jefferson as an accomplished leader. But most agreed with a more rounded view, said Jody Sowell, managing director of public history at the .
National criticism of some monuments often notes that they belong not in a public park, but a museum. Well, the Jefferson statue is in a museum.
“We long for heroes,†Sowell said. “We long for people to hold up on a pedestal. But visitors would rather be told the whole story and know the 360-degree view of these historic actors.â€

Students from Sumner High School (at left, in white shirts), the first African American high school west of the Mississippi, were among those participating in the unveiling ceremony for the Thomas Jefferson statue on April 30, 1913, at the Jefferson Memorial in St. Louis.
Always controversial
“Jefferson was controversial pretty much all of his public life,†historian said last week while giving a speech at Washington University. The author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “The Hemingses of Monticello,†Gordon-Reed talked about how views of the president evolved over 250 years.
He was hated; he was loved. His idea on the separation of church and state made critics see him a dangerous atheist, Gordon-Reed said. “Some people buried their Bibles because some were afraid Jefferson would take them.â€

Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States (1801-1809), in a ca. 1805 portrait by Rembrandt Peale. Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman whom he owned.Â
He condemned slavery in the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, but the passage was removed. Likely, too many colonists, including Northerners, had profited from it. During his life, Jefferson owned more than 600 enslaved people himself.
Although even some contemporaries knew he had fathered children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman 30 years younger, his white family members continued to deny that the pair’s four adult children were Jefferson’s offspring. The children, whose heritage was seven-eighths European and one-eighth African, were legally “white.†But they had been born into slavery because their mother was enslaved.
It wasn’t until 1998 that DNA testing confirmed Jefferson as their father, and not until 2018 that the Thomas Jefferson Foundation introduced a new Hemings exhibit at Monticello, calling paternity of her offspring “settled historical matter.â€

"Last Sale of Slaves," an 1870 painting by Thomas S. Noble, hangs in the Missouri History Museum Currents gallery, exploring St. Louis life from 1764 to 1904, April 21, 2022. In front of the painting is a railing depicting a courtroom setting for the Dred Scott decision, which eventually led to freedom from slavery for Scott and his family.Â
On the new panels at the Missouri History Museum, Hemings and Jefferson are referred to as having a “relationship.†More than 100 years ago, she was often called a “concubine.†Today, some call the coupling less a “relationship†than “rape†because of the power dynamics.
But “relationship†at its most basic can be used to indicate any connection between people. Sally Hemings’ feelings about the situation are unknown. Her son Madison that his mother only agreed to return to America with Jefferson from France (where she was free) if Jefferson agreed to treat their children with special privileges and to free them as adults.
For Gordon-Reed, statues don’t imply “hero worship.†To her, she said, “it’s someone who was important to the development of the country.â€
U.S. expansion
The second important controversy acknowledged in the panels concerns the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the United States. In 1803, the U.S. paid about $15 million (a portion was debt forgiveness) to Napoleon Bonaparte, who had military control over at least some of the area, particularly the crucial shipping port of New Orleans.
“(The Louisiana Purchase) assures forever the power of the United States, and I have given England a rival who, sooner or later, will humble her pride,†Bonaparte said. Bonaparte had not, however, purchased most of the land from the people who lived on it.

Thomas Jefferson's signature on the bottom of a letter ensuring the credit of Capt. Merriwether Lewis for his return journey from the Pacific Ocean to the United States on July 4, 1803. The letter is housed in the Missouri Historical Society Library.
In 2008, Robert Miller, author of “Native America, Discovered and Conquered,†phrased the sale thus: “You have no doubt read that the Louisiana Purchase was the ‘greatest real estate deal in history’ because the United States paid only ‘three cents an acre.’ That statement is false. … Instead, the United States bought the Discovery right to a limited sovereignty over the territory, the right to be the government the Indian Nations could deal with politically and commercially, and the preemptive right, the exclusive option to purchase the real estate whenever the owners, the Indian Nations, chose to sell.â€
The panel says: “In the years to come, the U.S. would make many treaties with the Native American nations who called the Louisiana Territory home. However, these treaties were often one sided, negotiated in bad faith, or ignored by settlers who pushed to take more territory from Native Americans.â€

A portrait of Meriwether Lewis and his telescope were on display in October 2014 at the Missouri History Museum. Lewis was the personal secretary to President Thomas Jefferson before he led the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase territory.Â
Monumental views
teaches a class called “Monumental Anti-Racism†at Washington University. His students followed the progress of the history museum’s panels.
He said visitors to the Jefferson Monument “don’t need to feel threatened by interpretive panels.â€

A statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, a Founding Father and the owner of 600 slaves, sits in the Jefferson Memorial building of the Missouri History Museum on April 21, 2022.Â
“We have a collective interest in understanding this figure in our national story,†Ward said.
Because “most people aren’t going back to school,†they often learn about evolving ideas about history through museums, films, public art.
When many monuments were first conceived, corridors of power had little to no diverse input. Now other views are being offered.
On his own campus, Ward would like to see more information added to a statue of George Washington and another highlighting the Olympic Games played in St. Louis. He’d like more discussion of street names and cities (like Clayton) named after slaveowners.

Missouri History Museum visitors look over Jefferson nickels during a talk by volunteer Ray Eberle-Mayse about Thomas Jefferson on April 21, 2022.Â
At the museum, Sowell expects that within a few years, more information will be added to the World’s Fair gallery and to the reproduction of Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis airplane. (A panel discussion about monuments and memorials is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the .)
The plane and the Jefferson statue are such long-held museum artifacts that reinterpretation often took a back seat to newer exhibitions. Still, Sowell said, the panels for Jefferson should have been added years ago.
Concise and meant to appeal to all visitors, the panels still only touch on the paradox of Jefferson’s life. For more, there are always a multitude of biographies and histories.
“If you leave the museum saying, ‘I never knew that’ or ‘I was fascinated by that,’ and then you decide you want to learn more, I think we’ve done a real service,†Sowell said.
Photos: Jefferson Memorial in Forest Park, from dedication to contextualization
Statue of Thomas Jefferson Memorial crowd in 1913

The 1913 unveiling of the Thomas Jefferson statue was said to have drawn a crowd of about 250,000 spectators, on April 30, 1913 at the Jefferson Memorial in St. Louis. In this photo, the statue is covered in an American flag prior to the unveiling. Photo from the Missouri Historical Society Collections
Sumner HS Students at Jefferson Memorial 1913 Parade

Jefferson Memorial Building dedication parade in Forest Park on April 30, 1913, show rows of young men carrying "C.B.C." flags marching past crowds in front of the Missouri Historical Society's new building in Forest Park. Courtesy Missouri Historical Society.
Jefferson Memorial 1913 - Exhibits inside the building

April 30, 1913 - Interior of the new Jefferson Memorial building (now the Missouri Historical Society) showing rows of exhibits.Â
Jefferson Memorial Groundbreaking 1911 (Now the Missouri Historical Society)

JEFFERSON MEMORIAL AS IT WILL APPEAR AND SCENE AT GROUND-BREAKING FOR IT
This photograph shows David R. Francis breaking ground for the Jefferson Memorial building at Forest Park. Left to right standing are Mrs. D. R. Francis, Miss Idress Head, librarian of the Missouri Historical Society, Breckinridge Jones and W. K. Bixby.
Clipped from the April 9, 1911, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ, Sunday Morning newspaper, page 1.
Jefferson Memorial - 1913 - Tablet Commemorating the Louisiana Purchase

April 30, 1913 - This sculpture by Karl Bitter shows Robert Livingston (standing), James Monroe (seated), and Francis Barbe-Marbois signing the document more commonly known as the 'Louisiana Purchase' in which the United States purchased the land west of the Mississippi River. The sculpture was originally designed for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and made out of staff, a temporary plaster and fiber material. (Description taken from )
Photo file: Mo., - St. Louis., - Jefferson Memorial
(Scanned photo contains original production markings added for photo definition.)
Jefferson Memorial Dedication newspaper clipping

Jefferson Memorial in Forest Park Which Is Turned Over to City and Officials, and Women Who Have Leading Part in Dedication.
Jefferson Memorial in Forest Park Which Is Turned Over to City: Two Governors, Mayor and President of Exposition Company. Who Dedicate the Structure and Descendants of Jefferson Chosen to Unveil the Jefferson Statue and the Tablet Commemorative of Louisiana Purchase.
(Collage of photos) Gov. Major of Missouri (credit Murillo); Gov. Dunne of Illinois; (Karl) Bitter's Heroic Statue of Jefferson; Miss Natalie Norton (credit Murillo); Dixie Wells Manning; David R Francis (credit Murillo); Jefferson Memorial Building; Tablet Commemorating the Louisiana Purchase; Mayor Kiel (credit Murillo)
Clipped from the April 30, 1913, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ, Wednesday Evening newspaper, page 1.
Karl Bitter's Thomas Jefferson sculpture for the Jefferson Memorial in St. Louis

Clipped from the August 11, 1912, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ SUNDAY MAGAZINE, Page One:
CARVING THE GREAT JEFFERSON STATUE (IN PUBLIC) FOR THE BEAUTIFUL FOREST PARK MEMORIAL
GREAT JEFFERSON MEMORIAL BUILDING IN FOREST PARK - AS IT LOOKS TODAY - ARROW INDICATES ARCH UNDER WHICH STATUE WILL STAND
KARL BITTER The Sculptor
BLOCK OF MARBLE IN THE ROUGH, FROM WHICH THE JEFFERSON STATUE WILL BE CARVED (Sketch by BERDANIER)
AS THE JEFFERSON STATUE WILL LOOK WHEN COMPLETED
Thomas Jefferson Statue at Jefferson Memorial in Forest Park, ca. 1922

December 18, 1922 - Profile view of Karl Bitter's Thomas Jefferson sculpture at the Jefferson Memorial (now the Missouri Historical Society) in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri.
Jefferson Memorial Monument - 1921

October, 2, 1921 - Aerial view of the Jefferson Memorial, in Forest Park (what is now the Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, Missouri)
Bath time for Jefferson Memorial statue

Missouri History Museum objects conservator Linda Landry cleans the Thomas Jefferson statue inside the Jefferson Memorial Building entrance on Thursday, April 18, 2013. The cleaning, the first to be done since the 1980s, is in preparation for the celebration of the building turning 100 years old. The memorial building was dedicated on April 30, 1913 and was the first memorial to the president, carved by sculptor Karl Bitter from single block of Italian marble. On May 1, the anniversary of the doors opening to the public, cake will be served at the museum. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Attractions, cultural institutions await reopening approval

The Thomas Jefferson statue is surrounded by office plants from staff at the Missouri History Museum on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. The plants were brought together for good sunlight and to be watered in one spot while all offices remain closed inside the Forest Park museum. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Thomas Jefferson statue in Missouri History Museum

Missouri History Museum volunteer Ray Eberle-Mayse, second from left, leads a talk about Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, a founding father of the nation and the owner of 600 slaves, as his statue sits in the Jefferson Memorial building on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Thomas Jefferson statue in Missouri History Museum

Missouri History Museum volunteer Ray Eberle-Mayse leads a talk about Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, a founding father of the nation and the owner of 600 slaves, as his statue sits in the Jefferson Memorial building on Thursday, April 21, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com
Thomas Jefferson statue in Missouri History Museum

A statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, a Founding Father and the owner of 600 slaves, sits in the Jefferson Memorial building of the Missouri History Museum on April 21, 2022.Â
Interpretive panels installed next to statue of Thomas Jefferson at Missouri History Museum

Missouri History Museum exhibit designer Emily Clark looks over a set of interpretive panels that will be installed on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 next to the statue of Thomas Jefferson at Missouri History Museum. The panels are being placed there to provide historic context about Thomas Jefferson as a person and the impacts of Louisiana Purchase on Native Americans. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Interpretive panels installed next to statue of Thomas Jefferson at Missouri History Museum

Missouri History Museum employee Matt Speckhard wipes a newly installed set of interpretive panels beneath the statue of Thomas Jefferson on April 26, 2022, at the Missouri History Museum. The panels provide historical context about Jefferson as a person and the impacts of the Louisiana Purchase on Native Americans.Â
Thomas Jefferson statue in Missouri History Museum

A statue of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, a founding father of the nation and the owner of 600 slaves, sits in the Jefferson Memorial building of the Missouri History Museum on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Photo by Robert Cohen, rcohen@post-dispatch.com