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.
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| The "nickel" side of the house |
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| Working the dumb waiter from below the house |
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| A well alongside the dependencies beneath the south terrace |
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| The fish holding pond |
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| The front entrance |
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| Looking back at the house from the north terrace |
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| The lovely path around the west lawn |
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| The huge garden, three football fields long |
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| Very tall corn in the garden |
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| Jefferson's epitaph does not include his stint as president -- these three achievements were most important to him |
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| 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.
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| Waiting to go inside and eat |
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| Sophie enjoyed her fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and biscuit |
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| The girls got to dress in period costume for the tour of the tavern |
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| The public room, where all guests slept |
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| The keeping hall, where meals were served |
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| The outdoor kitchen |
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| It really is a beautiful place |
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| The waterwheel of the historic grist mill next door to the tavern |
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| 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!
