Monticello

Thomas Jefferson was a renaissance man. Not only was he Virginia’s Governor’s, the third US President, Ambassador to France, and America’s first Secretary of State, he was an accomplished architect, master gardener, inventor, and book collector. His spectacular estate, Monticello, located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, is a fitting memorial to the man. Constructed over forty years, from 1769 to 1809, Monticello, whose name means “little mountain” in Italian, showcases Mr. Jefferson’s many talents. He designed the house, outbuildings, and gardens and the house includes some of his unique inventions, such as a dumbwaiter and a seven-day clock. Today, the estate is owned by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and welcomes visitors every day except for Christmas Day.

The Main House
The main house at Monticello is divided into three floors, with thirty-three rooms and over 11,000 square feet of living space. Thomas Jefferson did not care for fancy furnishings, preferring open spaces. Much of the furniture at Monticello is built-in, including many built-in cabinets and bookcases, and several alcove beds. Jefferson’s own unique bed is housed in an alcove between his bedroom and library, and is open on both sides. The library housed Jefferson’s extensive collection of over 6000 books in cases built into the walls of the octagonal room. Jefferson sold his collection to the Library of Congress after their collection was burnt by the British during the War of 1812. Those books formed the core of the present day Library of Congress. The house also features a greenhouse, a bright and sunlit room where Jefferson started seedlings for his garden and wintered his tropical plants. Jefferson loved the out of doors. The entrance hall floor is painted green, according to Jefferson’s instructions so that he could feel that he was still outdoors when he entered the house.

The Garden
Monticello’s gardens, designed by Jefferson and recorded by him in meticulous detail have been recreated to their original grandeur. Jefferson grew over 170 species of fruit trees as well as an extensive perennial flower garden. Monticello’s kitchen was renowned for its excellent cuisine and much of the produce and many of the herbs were ground on the estate. Today, visitors can stroll amidst the well-manicured grounds.

Visiting Monticello
Monticello is open to visitors every day except for Christmas Day. The main house is viewable on guided tours, where docents tell the story of Thomas Jefferson and life at the estate. The gardens are open for visitors to roam and seasonal tours are offered with lectures about the culinary garden, orchard, and more. A free visitor’s center is located at the entrance to the estate and houses over 400 items once owned by Jefferson as well as changing exhibits about the house and the estate.