A Day with Thomas Jefferson and Monticello

July 3, 2010

Saturday we drove north to Charlottesville to spend the day at Monticello, the home plantation of Thomas Jefferson. It was interesting to tour the home he had designed and built as a self-taught architect. The design is really ingenious; not only the home itself, but the extensions off either side containing root cellars, ice house, stable, kitchen and cook’s room, wine and beer cellars and other storage. You are not allowed to take pictures inside so we don't have any. As we walked through the house you really get sent back in time and we all should be grateful for what we have and the freedom we enjoy! It is a must see for everyone.
See the web site http://www.monticello.org/
We took another tour of Mulberry Row, the stretch of the grounds lined with Mulberry trees that shaded the enslaved, free, and independent workers and craftsmen who lived and worked on the plantation. Most of the 17 buildings that were located here are now gone since most were log or wooden structures. The tour guide however, brought this area to life with pictures and her vast knowledge of the workings of the plantation.
Ellen also took a tour of the gardens and landscape, yet another passion of Thomas Jefferson. He had personally landscaped the flower gardens, various groves, a vegetable garden and orchard, all of which he cataloged, tried different plantings and traded seeds with Europeans and others. As with architecture, he was a self-made botanist with much zeal for his various projects. After hiking down the hill to the former president’s burial site (along with many other family members) we continued the 1/3 mile down to the museum, visitor’s center and education center. Of course there is also a very nice gift shop, theatre, café etc. It was long day and we left exhausted, although we learned a lot and really enjoyed the experience. Tomorrow is the 4th of July! We are going to avoid the crowds and take a rest day, barbecue hamburgers and catch our breath for further adventures.

See our schedule at www.precisionrv.com