Mommy-Daughter road trip (day 3)

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

What a beautiful estate!  Monticello's views were spectacular during our visit on Saturday.  From one spot we were told Jefferson could look through his telescope and see the construction of the University of Virginia which he designed. The grounds of UVa are beautiful.

While we waited for our tour to start, we walked around the gardens at Monticello.  Jefferson had a vegetable garden and vineyard.  The blossoming trees and different tulip species were stunning.  Between the flowers and the lilacs in bloom, the grounds were aromatherapy for us.  We kept our cameras busy as we took in the beautiful scenery.  We walked down to where Jefferson and many of his descendants are buried and then headed back up to tour Monticello.  They don't allow photography in Monticello, so our photographs are all of the grounds.

I'm going to be lazy and quote my sister-in-law, Julee's report of interesting facts we learned on the tour.  

"[Jefferson] was bankrupt when he died--in large part because there was a depression/recession occurring at the time and b/c land prices had been greatly devalued by the Louisiana Purchase that he orchestrated as President (which, after he had Lewis & Clark explore and determine the size of the new territory, ended up being purchased for $0.03 per acre).  Supply and Demand.  (Wonder how many land owners whose property values took a dive were ticked by TJ's expansion efforts for the country).  It was also so cool to see so many of his innovative and inventive touches in his home--way ahead of his time.  I also learned that he really didn't enjoy being President.  Among all the many hats he wore, he first and foremost considered himself a farmer."

(-Julee)

In the home are the red leather chair he used as US VP and the red leather chair he used during his two terms as president.  The presidential chair had candle holders nailed to each hand rest so Jefferson could read into the night. Jefferson also invented a "copy machine" so when he wrote a letter or document another pen would make a duplicate copy.

The Monticello website is very well done with many photographs and online tours...check it out if you're interested.