Monticello, U of V and Jefferson Vinyards

On Thursday May 12, 2011, Danny and I got an early start on our day of touring Charlottesville. First stop was Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home. His innovative ideas were extensive: the stew stove in the kitchen for slow cooking, the fish pond for keeping the catch alive until needed, the ice cellar filled with ice from the river in the winter and kept through the summer, the pulley weighted calendar in the entrance, the clock with only the hour hand attached to a bell that alerted the field hands of the time, the beds built into the wall to save space and on and on. Mr. Jefferson continued to remodel the home throughout his life. Mulberry Row was a road next to the house where the slave quarters and the vegetable gardens were located. It was lined with mulberry trees and overlooked the river valley below. We enjoyed our guides' talks as they led us through the house and through the gardens. Quite an impressive place!

Clock on front porch.

Here's a view of the back entrance .

Fish pond near the kitchen to keep fish until needed.

A view of the estate from Mulberry Row.

Danny in the observation structure where Mr. Jefferson would stand to look out over his land.

Mulberry Row where slave quarters were located.

Extensive vegetable garden.

Here is the Jefferson family cemetery with Thomas Jefferson's grave in forefront.

After an enjoyable lunch in Charlottesville, we walked around on the campus of the University of Virginia. Thomas Jefferson was also the architect of the campus buildings. It's a lovely campus with beautiful old buildings and a spacious lawn.
Front view of the Administration Building which fronts a busy Charlottesville street.

The beautiful administration building with beautiful columns on the portico (covered we think because parts were in danger of falling...I hope they will be repaired) and topped with a dome.

The interior of the dome section of the administration building.

The lawn was surrounded by these pretty old buildings. The two story buildings were used for classes on the lower level and the professors lived above. Students lived in rooms between the class buildings. Today, only a select group of prestigious senior students are privileged to live in these rooms.

A view of the lawn from the steps of the administration building.

One of the student's rooms fronting the lawn. Take note of the bed on a loft over the windows. The students who live here must exit their rooms and go to a communal bathroom behind the buildings. Don't think would want the privilege of living in one of these rooms!

As we headed back to our townhouse at Gordonsville, we stopped to take a quick tour of Jefferson's Vineyards. The original vineyard was begun by Thomas Jefferson and Phillip Mazzei in 1774 with hopes of exporting wine to Europe , but was abandoned in 1776 due to the Revolutionary War. Following the war, Jefferson planted a private vineyard near Monticello. The vineyard we toured was replanted in 1981 and was opened with the original name Jefferson Vineyards.

Part of the Jefferson Vineyards.

Danny and I ended the day relaxing back at Shenandoah Crossings

and preparing to travel to Richmond, Virginia on Friday.