We were up and out the door early as planned. I had set the Tom-Tom for directions to Monticello and we were directed down about 8 miles of dirt road. Since the mileage was showing we were heading in the right direction we through caution to the wind and stayed on that road. Although the GPS will sometimes get us lost this time it was correct and we got to Monticello ok.
Monticello is the home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States. Jefferson fancied himself a self-taught architect and designed and redesigned his home several times putting up and tearing down.
He was a brilliant man who was obsessed with reading. He at one point had a collection of books reaching 7,000 in number. He sold those books to the Library of Congress after the White House was burned down during the War of 1812. He did not feel right about not having books and collected another 4,000 before his death.
Jefferson had a huge plantation that was tended to by his many slaves. Jefferson did not believe in slavery but yet did not free any of his slaves while alive. He did free four of his slaves as directed in his will but the families of the freed slaves were sold at auction. Interestingly, the laws stated that no slave could be freed if they were under 18 or over 55 years of age and if freed they would have to have the skills to work at a self-supporting job. Otherwise, the owners of the slaves were responsible for them financially.
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Since many of the furnishings in the home were on loan no interior photographs were allowed.
The new owners of Monticello. LOL
We toured the home and enjoyed seeing the interior. It was quite cozy for its size and many of Thomas Jefferson's “inventions” were on display.
After we joined the tour on Mulberry Row where the slaves tended the vegetable gardens, blacksmith shop, carpenters shop and the smoke house and dairy. They were kept busy from dawn to dusk six days a week and the plantation was self- supporting.
In Jefferson’s time it took over 100 slaves to care for the grounds, home and residents. Today the farm and grounds are tended to by four full time gardeners and two interns.
Most of Jefferson's slaves came to him by inheritance – 20 from his father and 135 from his father-in-law who happened to be a professional slave trader.
After the Mulberry Row tour we took the garden tour then went to the Monticello graveyard.
We spent the majority of the day at Monticello arriving at 10 am and leaving at 4:30 pm. The tours were very informative, museum amazing , plantation enormous and we must have walked over five miles.
Approximately two miles down the road is the home of President James Monroe a very close friend of Thomas Jefferson. Again – no interior photography.
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Monroe’ s home was very small and far less elegant then Jefferson’s . James Monroe held more major offices then any other President: U.S. Senator, Minister to France, England and Spain; Governor of Virginia; Secretary of State and of War; and fifth President of the United States. As President Jefferson's special envoy, Monroe negotiated the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Monroe’s presidency was termed “The Era of Good Feeling,” and he was reelected without opposition in 1820.
Monroe purchased Ash Lawn-Highland because of his friendship with Thomas Jefferson. Seeking to create “a society to our taste,” Jefferson selected the Monroe house site and sent gardeners from Monticello to start orchards.
The Monroe’s planned to retire to Highland but in 1826 finances and poor health forced the sale of their “cabin castle.” In 1974 Jay Winston Johns bequeathed Ash Lawn-Highland to Monroe’s alma mater, the College of William and Mary for the education of the general public.
The grounds at Ash Lawn-Highland were equally as beautiful as Monticello but on a smaller scale.
After touring the home and grounds we decide it was time to go home. We planned to stop at the Michie Tavern for dinner but much to our surprise the tavern is only open form 11am to 3:30 pm.
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The Grist Mill was moved to it’s current location in the 1800’s.
No dinner for us –so we planned to tour Historic Downtown Charlottesville. OK then, follow the signs – then no signs so we never did find Historic Charlottesville. At that point we were both tired and not in the mood for tracking down another historical town so we headed back to the CG. This time no dirt road involved.
The weather was deteriorating quite rapidly and we found ourselves in an incredible downpour. Back at the CG it has finally stopped but later in the evening it poured again with a pretty significant thunder and lightening storm. Jewel was not happy and I had to lay in the bed with her to calm her down. Poor Jewel she can’t catch a break.
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