A trip to visit Monticello is the best kind of history lesson. We opted to tour the inside of the house, even though cameras are not allowed. Once there you can understand why. The rooms are actually quite small! Each tour lasts about an hour and there are just the right amount of people in each tour to fill the room. You are moved along at a fair pace so that the next tour can come through. The information presented was very interesting and relevant. Thomas Jefferson was truly a Renaissance Man. I would encourage anyone to revisit his life andsignificant contributions.
This is the quintessential view of Monticello. This is the front of home. The back of Monticello is what is found on our nickel.
A closer view to make it easier to point out the weather vane placed on top of the portico. Can you see it? The direction was shown on a compass that is the smallish black circle on the ceiling in front of the middle door and between the two middle columns. We learned in the tour of the house that Thomas Jefferson recorded the temperature and wind direction four times a day when he could.
This is the back of the house.
Side of the front of the house.
The other side of the front.
This piece of art showcases Thomas Jefferson's interest in art, especially French and Italian sculptures, with a twist of American agriculture.
And the rest of the story! Thomas Jefferson was a scientist at heart.
Looking off into the distance from the hill that was leveled to build Monticello.
Below the house is a substantial garden that at the time Jefferson's plantation was the most active was used to grow vegetables and fruit for the entire population.
The other half of the garden.
Bellows similar to the one used in the forging shop.
The spit jack used to rotate roasting meats.
Burners mentioned above.
From a chair on the porch, Thomas Jefferson could look off into the distance where construction was taking place on the University of Virginia. The hole in the trees is maintained so each visitor can appreciate what Thomas Jefferson would have seen.
There are two cemeteries at Monticello. This one is just down the hill from the house and contains the remains of Thomas Jefferson and his family. Jefferson's descendants may still be buried there as there are places for additional plots.
The back side Thomas Jefferson's tombstone.
For Cory.