Charlottesville Field Trip

Wednesday I had the honor and privilege of accompanying the junior class on their field trip to Charlottesville. We toured both UVA and Monticello as part of learning all about Thomas Jefferson as an Enlightenment thinker.

Selfie with good old TJ

I hadn't been to UVA or even Charlottesville for quite some time, and it was fun to be on Grounds with the students and able to show them around a little bit. We had a student guide who gave us a tour. He was a first year and very knowledgeable about the University. I found that I learned quite a few new things during the tour.

Our guide as he talked to us on the lawn

Telling about the pavilions and Jefferson's plan for the academical village

One of the new things I learned was about the role of slavery at the University. What are now the gardens were the slave areas where slaves owned by professors and by the University lived and worked out of view of the academical village.

Unfortunately we could not get a good view of the Rotunda due to renovations. Cabell Hall was being worked on as well.

Working on the columns of the Rotunda

Waiting in the cold for our tour guide

Cabell Hall

After a whirlwind tour (that was not enough time, in my opinion) we were off to Monticello. Here we toured the house and grounds. Again, I found that I learned a few new things about the house and about Jefferson.

Arriving at Monticello, where we also had an excellent tour guide

Group photo on the steps at the back of the house

Newly reconstructed slave quarters on Mulberry Row

The 1000 foot long vegetable garden where over 200 vegetables were planted

My group posing with TJ -- see him in the middle?

This was a great day of learning for me and the students, and it was beyond fun to be back at my old stomping grounds. Looking forward to doing it again next year!