Monticello

I decided to do a separate post about my visit to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Plantation in Charlottesville, VA. There was too much to see and learn, and too many pictures to slip them in another post.


This life-sized statue of Jefferson greets you at the Visitor's Center. A shuttle bus takes you to the top of the hill where the house and grounds are located.

While waiting for our turn to tour the house, we toured Mulberry Row and the vegetable garden. Here you are invited to step back in time as costumed workers reenact the days of slavery.

This picture shows only a small portion of the terrace gardens.

Two "slaves" carry a pot along Mulberry Row.

Past the remains of a slave cabin.

You listen to them chatting much as they must have in Jefferson's time.

The red blanket hides a modern ice cooler...ha!

An example of a slave's daily ration of hoe-cakes.

The grounds around the west lawn of the main house meanders among flower gardens.

Jefferson could see the University of Virginia, which he founded, from the west lawn.

View from the West Lawn. The completed building is 3-stories, 21-rooms.

Jefferson was his own architect, designing the house with many innovations, and choosing the furnishings himself. Under the East portico was an extension of the weather vane on the roof. Jefferson could check the wind direction without stepping out in the weather.

No pictures were allowed inside the house, but this photo of the Entry Hall shows some of the artifacts & Indian relics displayed that were given to him from the Lewis & Clark expedition.

The main house construction began in 1768 and was enlarged and remodeled over a 40 year period. This little house was built first and is where Jefferson and his wife lived during the first phase of construction.

A peek inside

Just behind the little house is this fish pond....a clever idea.

Monticello reflected in the fish pond.

Jefferson's slaves were allowed to learn to read.

The cooks' room/living quarters were under the main house.

The kitchen's multi-burner, charcoal-fired stew stove and hearth.

A system of covered passages led from the kitchen to wine cellars to the main house without having to go outside.

Back on Mulberry Row we learn about the blacksmith shop, nailery and woodworking shops.

Following a pathway back down to the visitor center, we pass the family graveyard. Jefferson wrote his own simple epitaph, "Author of the Declaration of Independence..." and "Father of the University of Virginia."

The fence/gate.

At the base of the hill, below the visitor's center is the slave cemetery.

Not so well tended, but perhaps they are working on it.

Just down the road from Monticello is Michie Tavern, established in 1784.

Perhaps Thomas Jefferson stopped in here for an ale a time or two.

They were serving lunch in the Ordinary. Since I recently learned what an "Ordinary" was, we had to try it.

The waitresses wore period costume.

And the food was abundant and good. I even ate a beet.

Never heard of this game.

Stairway to the bedrooms? We didn't take the full tour available. Too tired.

Monticello is well worth the visit if you're ever in the area.