Monticello is much larger than it looks. It's three stories look like two because Jefferson liked the look of the tall windows. The octagon room in the attic is a nice, yet mysterious room.

Photos: Click on thumbnail for larger image.

The building meant by Jefferson to serve as the University of Virginia's "brain." It served, therefore, as library.	The UVA campus was designed by Jefferson to be a learning community. Here are halls leading to student dorms.	Jefferson intended these buildings to serve as professor's quarters and as classrooms.	The UVA lawn is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.
Photos are usually not allowed. This is what you see when you enter Jefferson's house: a hide adorned with Amerind artwork.	Jefferson was a man of geography. Some of these artifacts were collected by Lewis and Clark.	Jefferson's bed was built into the wall. One one side is his private study and the other side is a changing room. Pink bedspread!	Modifications to Monticello's dining room allowed for slaves to serve dinner without being seen.
A reflecting pond built on the green at Monticello. Very high class.	Jefferson's grave is locked behind iron gates. I squeezed my arm through, but did not throw nickels like previous gawkers.	The service road at Monticello was home to slave quarters. The slaves of Monticello are buried under what is now parking lot.	Monticello as seen from one of his former properties atop a mountain.
Blue Ridge Mountains as seen from Jefferson's former domain.

 

Statistics:

Dates: In the extreme heat of July, 2007, for five days. I represented Taft H.S. at a Gilder Lehrman conference on the Declaration of Independence.

Areas Explored: Charlottesville, VA

Transportation: Big Airbus jet to Charlotte, NC (a nice airport with rocking chairs); and then a small twin prop to Charlottesville Airport. At Charlottesville, the same guy who checks you in also loads the baggage. It was quite a contrast to industrial O'Hare.

Trip Notes:

I really enjoyed this trip, although it was filled with work. It was the kind of thing I like, though: lectures from history professors, a peek at not-oft-viewed documents, research into revolutionary politics, lively (if not sometimes annoying) debate, and being around the ghosts of time past. I also discovered that my colleagues around the country are a strange group, to say the least.

... More to come on UVA, Monticello, and other sites....