Jefferson's Monticello

I imagined Thomas Jefferson walking the grounds of his inherited 3,000 acres of land along the Rivanna River feeling literally on top of the world. Monticello is an impressive estate that took Jefferson 40 years to complete, much thought was given prior to, and during the construction of Monticello. Thomas Jefferson was highly influenced by European styles, textiles, and designs and incorporated them all when designing Monticello, a two story, eight-room house that he began transforming into a three-story house in 1796 inspired by a structure he saw in Paris. While expanding the house to accommodate a second floor, Jefferson also added a dome over the front west side of the house, which was the first for an American house. Therefore, the image on the back of the nickel is the back of the home instead of the front. The main house is connected to South and North pavilions with terraces, under the terraces are all-weather passageways to the kitchen, cook’s room, smokehouse, two slave quarters, dairy, and a service room on the south side. On the north side was the ice house; stables, carriage house, and wash house were “dependencies” areas where domestic/enslaved people were instrumental to the functioning of the main house. Jefferson inherited 150 plus slaves with the land and they worked the farms, helped construct the house and outbuildings while performing house duties.

Jefferson is a founding father of the Declaration of Independence and likely the father of his slave Sally Hemings’ children. A subject that has been debated for more than two centuries, a DNA test did determine that there was a genetic link between the Jefferson and Hemings’ family; however, the evidence is not definitive enough for the heirs of Jefferson to share his burial ground with the Hemings. A request the Hemings’ family made when it was determined that Jefferson was the father of Hemings’ eldest son Eston who was born in 1808. The grounds of Monticello are absolutely beautiful there are orchards, vineyards, vegetable gardens, mulberry row that leads you the Jefferson Gravesite, and the flower walk makes the garden and grounds tour an enjoyable stroll. A visit to Monticello is a great way to spend the day and the best time to tour the property is in the evening. Signature tours are offered to small groups of twenty, the tour begins promptly at 6 p.m., on top-of-the mountain, and a special tour of the dome is included. The dome is an empty room without any visible views but the only room in the house where photos can be snapped due to copy right issues. Although photos are prohibited in the house, there are artifacts in the basement, the dependencies, and the lush green grounds to photograph. However, bring a tape recorder and ask plenty of questions, there are two knowledgeable guides who seem to be passionate and excited to share tidbits of Jefferson’s legacy, and their information will save you a trip to the gift shop. This was a three blink experience for me.

AHSI......The visit to Monticello was an enjoyable experience. The tour was very infomative and it afforded me an opportunity to experience how our forefathers shaped the country that we now live in. When you arrive at the huge plantation, the first thing you notice is how huge it is while it is sitting on over 3000 acres. Thomas Jefferson was a scholar who possessed one of the largest privately owned libraries. In his home there are countless books, maps, paintings and other artifacts from all over the world. The gardens that he kept were well documented and you can see how agriculture was very important then as well as now. You can also see the great influence that the European culture had on our forefathers, through the architecture, tools, science and religious beliefs. The family plot is also located on the property, along with the slave quarters and the stables that housed the farm animals. You will also learn about Thomas Jefferson's extended family, and his children born to his slave Sally Hemings who along with her children were ironically set free in his will after he died. They were not allowed to be buried in the family plot and they were looked at as the big secret that everyone new about. Monticello was a three eye ball experience.