Monticello - Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence

We drove to Monticello near Charlottesville, VA to the home of Thomas S. Jefferson. We spent of the day seeing the inside of his home. The foyer he set up as a museum. We were not allowed to take pictures inside (that was standard everywhere we went). Where Mr. Jefferson had traveled, he brought back trinkets and had them on display around his foyer. He had american indian artifacts and clothing, items from all over Europe, different guns, and a lot more stuff. They said he would spend time with guests teaching them about other people and places.  

This is Monticello. This is only the center portion of the home. There are two wings with houses on each side that are connected with a raised terrace walkway to the house.  So lush!

 Plaque by the house. Worth reading.

 On the top of his home was a weather vane. Look at the picture above and look up toward the ceiling. Mr. Jefferson put a special dial (connected to the weather vane) so he could look up and tell which way the wind was blowing without being out in the cold. He had all kinds of inventions around his home.

This is under the main house. A full basement with a variety of rooms. He had wine cellars, beer cellars, cisterns for collecting water, storage, kitchens, stables, you name it! Yet, it was never seen from the front or back. You could only see if from the side of the house! Very well designed.

 This is part of Mr. Jefferson's property. But if you look over the trees to just left of center to the patch of smooth grass, that is where James Monroe lived at Ash-Lawn Highland. His house was only 2 miles away and they had a path between the homes where they could ride their horses and visit regularly with each other!

One thing that really impressed us as we visited all these homes was they were completely self-sufficient. They grew the cotton, spun & made their own clothes, grew their own food (this is the vegetable garden), and trees for making their furniture! We could take a lesson here! One thing about Mr. Jefferson's garden that is still being practiced today is they harvest the seed. They are never hybrid. The originals grow bigger and have a sweet smell to the flowers. People can actually order directly from Monticello their seeds.

 We were impressed with the Fig trees. Very ripe. We were invited to eat them. So we did! Yum!!!

 Here is one of the kitchens that was stocked with a lot of baskets, wooden containers and copper ware. Very nice! There was even a spit for roasting that was a very clever invention!

 This is the grave marker for Thomas Jefferson in their family graveyard (still be used today). I hope one day I get to meet this remarkable man. He influenced so many of his peers and helped form our great Nation!