Charlottesville, Part 2

 Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, is just a few miles from Charlottesville. You can see the buildings 
of the University of Virginia from the terrace. Jefferson was the founder of the university.
He designed Monticello as well as the university buildings, and he watched the construction of the university with his spyglass.

Our vivacious guide to the interior of the house. She did a good job of describing Jefferson’s
life and its contradictions. His statesmanship, his idea of freedom and human rights in
the Declaration of Independence and the Virginia law on religious freedom all contrast painfully
to his possession of over 600 enslaved people and his treatment of them.

Jefferson had eleven grandchildren who lived at Monticello along with his daughter, their mother.
These children played in the house — in contrast to his own enslaved children by Sally Hemings.

Jefferson’s possessions are on display, such as these boots.

As an ambassador to France, Jefferson learned to love French food and wine.

Many books are on display as Jefferson owned a large library.
He gave most of his own books to the founding of the Library of Congress.

On display in his entrance hall: artifacts from Indian tribes collected by Lewis and Clark.
As President, Jefferson arranged the Louisiana Purchase and the expedition to explore the newly purchased territories. (Artifacts are not original)

The image of Monticello is familiar to most Americans because it is reproduced on the nickel.

Photos © 2023 mae sander