Summer of Virginia History: Monticello

Today we wrapped up our summer tour circuit of Virginia presidential homes by heading to Charlottesville, our old stomping grounds, to visit Monticello. It was a misty, dreary day, which was a nice change from the hot days we've experienced at each of our other visits this summer.

The "nickel" side of the house

Working the dumb waiter from below the house

A well alongside the dependencies beneath the south terrace

The fish holding pond

The front entrance

Looking back at the house from the north terrace

The lovely path around the west lawn

The huge garden, three football fields long

Very tall corn in the garden

Jefferson's epitaph does not include his stint as president -- these three achievements were most important to him 

Group selfie with TJ

After touring the house and grounds, we ventured partway back down the mountain to enjoy some midday fare at the historic Michie Tavern. After our meal we toured the tavern and the girls completed a scavenger hunt and won chocolate gold coins for their efforts.

Waiting to go inside and eat 

Sophie enjoyed her fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuit

The girls got to dress in period costume for the tour of the tavern

The public room, where all guests slept

The keeping hall, where meals were served

The outdoor kitchen

It really is a beautiful place

The waterwheel of the historic grist mill next door to the tavern

Dedicated to Charles: a sign in the window of the general store inside the grist mill

One new and interesting thing I learned is that the tavern was originally located (in the late 1700s) near Earlysville. In the Civil War era, there was a reduction in stage coach travel, which left the tavern with fewer customers. It was owned by several families over the next number of years and purchased in the 1920s by a woman who wanted it for displaying her large antique collection. She recognized that the location was out of the way, so she moved the entire structure just down from the newly opened Monticello to take advantage of the traffic to the presidential home.

Though our summer of Virginia history has concluded, we're hoping to yet squeeze in a visit to the current president's home, the White House, sometime this fall. We'll keep you posted!