Monticello

While we were in Charlottesville we were able to visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home. It was such a treat, Thomas Jefferson is such an inspiring man.

Mariah loved having the space to roam around in.

We learned so many interesting things about Thomas Jefferson on the tour of the house. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures inside the house. We especially liked his gadgets. He had a pulley system to bring bottles of wine directly up from the wine cellar into the dining room. He had a special clock made that worked using weights that gradually descend throughout the week, he had markings to pass each day along the wall. He also made it so when you open one door, the other one opens at the same exact time. The amazing thing is that they all are still working. He kept an amazing schedule, he said that the sun had never found him in bed. He recorded the indoor and outdoor temperatures at dawn and at dusk, recorded everything that happened on his plantation with over 200 slaves, and the exact location and workings of every plant on the plantation.

This tree is only one of two original trees that Thomas Jefferson had planted and that were on the property when Thomas Jefferson lived there. It is really sad though because it isn't doing well and is going to be removed.

The flowers there are all heirloom plants and are very interesting and pretty.

Thomas Jefferson's vegetable garden was three footballs fields long and were tended by the senile (elderly) slaves.

This structure was in the middle of the garden.

The orchard was amazing. He did a lot of experimenting there.

They let us eat some cherries from the cherry tree, they were delicious.

We were able to see Thomas Jefferson's grave. He wrote his own epitaph about what he felt his most important accomplishments were. There was nothing about being the president. Truly an inspiring man and place.