Even the drive in was beautiful, as is all of Virginia.
Thomas Jefferson
Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson was both widowed and lost her first son in 1768. In 1772 she married Thomas Jefferson, a young lawyer, and over the next 10 years bore him 6 children. Only two daughters, Mary and Martha (Patsy) lived to adulthood. Martha died from childbirth in 1782 at the age of 33. Her last wish was that Jefferson never remarry. Which he didn't.
This drawing is a blueprint of Monticello. But Monticello is not just the beautiful house you see in pictures. Monticello, it's design, layout and gardens are the invention and creation of a genius.
The lines showing what appears to be a hallway bisecting the house is actually an underground passageway with storage rooms and dumbwaiters delivering wine, food and anything else needed to assure an active group conversation and meeting without staff disturbance.
The left side group of rooms are food preparation, kitchens and storage rooms available from the gardens to the left. The right side holds the stables, carriage rooms and the circle is a massive ice barrel 20 feet across. Ice is brought up from the river during the winter, layered with hay and it lasts all summer. Now for some pictures showing his genius. I'll add too that atop these two wings are promenades offering magnificent vistas of gardens and the surrounding mountains.
First glimpse of Monticello as I've always thought it would look. For some reason it was smaller than I imagined. Thomas Jefferson designed and had this home built over a 40 year time span. He had to fit it in during the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the founding of the University of Virginia. During his 35 years of public service he held numerous positions from Governor of Virginia, minister to France, Vice President and President from 1801 to 1809.
One of the kitchen rooms.
Storage cellar.
One of many stables along the right side and behind the house.
Through this peephole is the University of Virginia. The peephole was much larger during Jefferson's days and it was said he sat with a telescope keeping a vigil eye on the construction progress. Now they keep just a small clearing for the view.
This fish pond was stocked from the river and when fish was wanted for dinner it was a quick scoop and Bob's your Uncle.
This is the prettiest side of Monticello.
Jefferson was beyond an avid reader. He taught himself seven languages, horticulture, architecture and every imaginable subject. He would implement new ideas for his gardens, flowers, household aids, ideas, and on and on.
We did a tour of the home but were not allowed to use our cameras inside. But there are plenty on the internet so I borrowed a few to show you the beauty and genius. Below is his private dining room where presidents, diplomats and dignitaries were entertained.
The room below was his "man cave". He did all his research from here. The bed to the right is a design from his time in France. It saved wall space and was more space efficient.
This is the other side of the bed. Most of the windows in the house are double pane and triple sashes to allow more light in. This room also has a skylight. So many unique design features. He did a lot of his reading in this room.
Outside his main personal rooms are the gardens. The gardens are maintained to this day, growing in the same cycles as in Jefferson's day. Today the veggies go to the Monticello staff.
Along the entire length of these gardens was once a long row of buildings called Mulberry Row. These buildings have basically disappeared, though four have survived. Most of these buildings were used for industry, harvesting, making clothing, nails, tools, etc.
There is continual excavating going on around the home. A group here is uncovering in depth the Joiner Shop used by slaves and free slaves to make household accessories and furniture.
Strolling down past the gardens is the Jefferson Graveyard. The graveyard is the site of Jefferson's grave and the remaining land dedicated only to Jefferson descendants.
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Back up on the rise a few more pictures of the exterior of the home. I just can't stop taking pictures of it. I move five feet one direction or the other and voila, a different view. So indulge me as I share more but not all pictures.
Even the flowers are amazing.
If you'll notice at the end of the left wing is a small cube building. This was the home Jefferson moved to in 1770 and lived in during the building of Monticello. Under this building is the kitchen of the left wing. Below you see a one room house. In 1772 he married Martha Skelton, daughter to a wealthy Virginia planter. They lived here with at least one child until 1774, when Monticello was habitable but still under construction.
The exterior of the house. This building is now called the South Pavilion.
Promenade coming off the private rooms of Thomas Jefferson.
An interesting controversy existed about the paternity of slave Sally Hemmings children. That dispute can now be laid to rest. Thomas Jefferson is positively identified through DNA as the father of all six of Sally Hemmings children. There is a ton of information available about their relationship.
Sally Hemmings was the personal slave of Martha Washington. She outlived Thomas Jefferson and when Jefferson died he freed her and two of their children, though at that time he probably did not realize the extent of his paternity. It is said that one of the freed sons spent ten years saving every dime he could so he could go out and buy the freedom of the rest of his family. He was successful with only a few exceptions.
And after hearing so much about Thomas Jefferson we strolled back down the hill along this beautiful path that Jefferson would ride his horse along and only imagine how that might have felt.
I thank you for visiting and next will be out fantastic visit to Appomattox. Come back soon, Susan
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