Tuesday, June 14, 2016

June 13, 2016

Monticello

A day at the home of Thomas Jefferson.

Drove from RV campground to Monticello on small country back roads.  Much prefer that to interstates.  Mile after mile of picturesque Virginia farms separated by deciduous forests.  Bright sun and blue skies.  Fun drive.

Visitor center is about half way up Monticello ‘mountain’.  Purchase tickets and get time reservation for house tour.  Board shuttle to top of mountain.  Spent half hour self touring lower/basement level of house.  This level has a large number of rooms that housed a variety of activities necessary for the functioning of the house and estate.  We have seen buildings with these functions on other estate/plantations but Jefferson designed and built all these functions into a contiguous ‘U’ shaped unit and, using the slope of the hill top, built the back walls into the hill so that the roof was at ground level and did not obstruct the view from the house and gardens.  The base of the ‘U’ runs under the length of the house and includes a tunnel to allow quick and efficient movement of cooked (kitchen was one of rooms) and stored food and beverages to house.

Jefferson was a self taught architect and there is architectural ingenuity everywhere. 

Not just architecture.  Science, mathematics, art, music, literature, horticulture, and on and on.  Not to forget politics, diplomacy and running a country.

His mind was always active.  Created a turntable device that allowed him to actively read and refer to five books at the same time.  Created an odometer for his carriage. On and on and on.

Docent staff very good.  Very knowledgeable and presented lots of information in an easy to assimilate manner. 

Admission includes three guided tours (house, gardens, and life as a slave) in addition to self exploring grounds, displays, and museums.

We spent well over five hours there and didn’t feel it go by.

 

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Back of a nickel in color

 

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Only tree remaining from Jefferson’s time.  The white spindly one on the right.

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Grave of Thomas Jefferson.  Marker includes the three things he felt were his life's’  greatest achievements.  President of the United States is not one of them.

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Thomas Jefferson and friend



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