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Monticello. The Fabulously Interesting And Gorgeous Estate Of Thomas Jefferson.

This was our third visit to Monticello. The conservancy has done a great job creating new exhibits and keeping old ones up to date and historically relevant. It was a very warm day but, being on top of the mountain helped a bit. We figure that is certainly one reason Jefferson chose the spot. The other must have been the absolutely wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. He also used the view to oversee the construction of his proudest accomplishment, The University of Virginia (UVA).

Did I mention the views?
Strange to see scaffolding on the house.
Check out the website www.monticello.org/plastering It is very interesting.
Montalto view from Monticello. Jefferson owned this mountain also and had grand plans for an observatory there but that never materialized.

I am usually not a huge fan of walking through someone else’s gardens but…..

A wee bit of history here. Many of the flower varieties were from seeds brought back to Jefferson by Lewis and Clark from their expedition out west
Along with all the flowers and vegetables Jefferson grew cash crops like these tobacco plants.
I do not think I have ever seen a cotton plant up close.
Gorgeous trees! Although many looked old……
This red cedar (small tree in the center) is believed to be the only remaining tree from when Jefferson was still alive.
The ice house. Something we do not use anymore in our modern times. Read about it below.
Even the Founding Fathers had to go sometime!
Imagine standing downwind of this vent on a hot summer’s day?

This “buggy” is called a phaeton. What a fun looking ride! We suppose this was the luxury model back in the day?
Something Jefferson and I have in common is the passion for measurement.

The odometer above for his phaeton would ring a bell every tenth of a mile so Jefferson could easily keep track of his progress. Check out the detailed gearing!

Gotta love math!!
Jefferson’s log book of distances near Monticello
The Levy gravesite on Mulberry Row at Monticello. They purchased the home in the 1800s and made very few repairs or modifications to the estate. This made the conservancy’s job much easier to restore the estate to Jefferson’s time period. 75% of what we saw was authentic and actually present during Jefferson’s life. Gotta love that.
The splendid gate and fence were funded by the US Congress many years after Jefferson’s death. It was more for security purposes than aesthetics.
Note the 3 major accomplishments he wanted listed on his tombstone. Being President was not one of them. Seems as though the religious freedom issue is rearing its head again in today’s politics. Wonder what Jefferson would have to say today?
Me and The Man at Monticello.
Had to snap a photo of this romantic elder couple. Very inspiring indeed.

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