Origin of the Name "Monticello" | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia Origin of the Name "Monticello" The exact source of the word "Monticello" (pronounced "Monti-cello," like the musical instrument) as the name for Jefferson's plantation home remains a mystery. Jefferson's earliest documented use of the word appears in his Garden Book entry of August 3, 1767: "inoculated common cherry buds into stocks of large kind at Monticello." 1 Yet just two years later, in his Account Book, Jefferson records that 9,787 pounds of tobacco were made at "Moncello" in 1768. 2 Later, in a January 1770 entry, Jefferson notes "work to be done at Hermitage," but at some point, he crosses Hermitage out and writes in Monticello. 3 After this last entry, Jefferson consistently refers to his property as Monticello. However, because these early entries may have been made retroactively, it is impossible to pinpoint exactly when Jefferson began to use the name.

Since Monticello means "hillock" or "little mountain" in Italian, there is a logical explanation for Jefferson's choice. Jefferson may have just translated the names of the two mountains as they appeared in the Albemarle County Deed Books - Little Mountain and High Mountain - into Italian. High Mountain was referred to by Jefferson as Montalto , which he acquired in 1777. Jefferson's interest in Italian began as early as 1764 when he purchased an Italian-English dictionary, two historical works in Italian and the works of Machiavelli. By 1767, Jefferson had also convinced Francesco Alberti , a musician from Faenza, to move into the area so that he could study the violin with him.

Another source may have been Andrea Palladio's Four Books of Architecture, a work Jefferson deemed to be his "bible." In Book One of the 1721 Leoni translation, Palladio describes the ideal setting for a country house, his famous Villa Rotunda near Vicenza: "Its situation is as advantageous and delicious as can be desired, being seated on a hillock of a most easy ascent..." 4 This was cited in Jefferson's account books of the 1770s. Whether or not Jefferson read this in Italian at this early date is unclear, but it is a possibility. At least the theater-like description of the site, located on top of a hillock above a navigable river and surrounded by hills and orchards, must have influenced Jefferson. Because Jefferson knew Italian and himself named Monticello, it seems apparent that he would have used the Italian pronunciation. The name has been used elsewhere in the United States and Americanized into "Montisello," but there is no contemporary evidence to support this pronunciation. We do not have anything in Jefferson's writing that tells us how he pronounced the word, but we have other written records that indicate the Italian pronunciation.

For example, in 1781 George Gilmer wrote to Jefferson, "I long to behold the period when you may with propriety retreat to Montchello..." 5 In 1789, Baron Geismar wrote to Jefferson, "Que je Vous envie Votre Retour à MontiChello, Sejour paisible et agreable que j'y ai passé!" 6 In 1805, Meriwether Lewis wrote to Jefferson from Fort Mandan, “You may therefore expect me to meet you at Montachello in September 1806.” 7 And in 1843, James Adams Kasson, a newcomer to Albemarle County who became acquainted with a member of the Jefferson family, wrote: "I am working my way around...into most of the families of this circle which contains, besides those I have before mentioned, a gentleman closely related to Jefferson and brought up at Monticello (President J.'s seat), the 'c' pronounced like 'ch' in chair -- 'Montichello.'" 8 - Rebecca Bowman, May 1996; references added by Anna Berkes, April 23, 2012 Thomas Jefferson |

 whitehouse.gov Air Force One Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, a spokesman for democracy, was an American Founding Father, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and the third President of the United States (1801–1809).

In the thick of party conflict in 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This powerful advocate of liberty was born in 1743 in Albemarle County, Virginia, inheriting from his father, a planter and surveyor, some 5,000 acres of land, and from his mother, a Randolph, high social standing. He studied at the College of William and Mary, then read law. In 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, and took her to live in his partly constructed mountaintop home, Monticello. Freckled and sandy-haired, rather tall and awkward, Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no public speaker. In the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause. As the "silent member" of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia.

Most notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786. Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France in 1785. His sympathy for the French Revolution led him into conflict with Alexander Hamilton when Jefferson was Secretary of State in President Washington's Cabinet. He resigned in 1793. Sharp political conflict developed, and two separate parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, began to form. Jefferson gradually assumed leadership of the Republicans, who sympathized with the revolutionary cause in France. Attacking Federalist policies, he opposed a strong centralized Government and championed the rights of states. As a reluctant candidate for President in 1796, Jefferson came within three votes of election. Through a flaw in the Constitution, he became Vice President, although an opponent of President Adams. In 1800 the defect caused a more serious problem. Republican electors, attempting to name both a President and a Vice President from their own party, cast a tie vote between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The House of Representatives settled the tie. Hamilton, disliking both Jefferson and Burr, nevertheless urged Jefferson's election. When Jefferson assumed the Presidency, the crisis in France had passed.

He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a third. He also sent a naval squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in the Mediterranean. Further, although the Constitution made no provision for the acquisition of new land, Jefferson suppressed his qualms over constitutionality when he had the opportunity to acquire the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon in 1803. During Jefferson's second term, he was increasingly preoccupied with keeping the Nation from involvement in the Napoleonic wars, though both England and France interfered with the neutral rights of American merchantmen. Jefferson's attempted solution, an embargo upon American shipping, worked badly and was unpopular. Jefferson retired to Monticello to ponder such projects as his grand designs for the University of Virginia. A French nobleman observed that he had placed his house and his mind "on an elevated situation, from which he might contemplate the universe." He died on July 4, 1826. The Presidential biographies on WhiteHouse.gov are from “The Presidents of the United States of America,” by Frank Freidel and Hugh Sidey.

Copyright 2006 by the White House Historical Association. Monticello -- Home of Thomas Jefferson - Virginia Is For Lovers Virginia is for Lovers Visit Site No other home in the United States more accurately reflects the personality of its owner than Monticello. Monticello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson—designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years—and its gardens were a botanic showpiece, a source of food, and an experimental laboratory of ornamental and useful plants from around the world. Guided tours of the house are offered daily throughout the year; outdoor gardens and plantation tours are offered daily April-October. Children under 5 are free. Reduced rates for adult and student groups are available. HOURS: Hours vary throughout the year; visit for detailed information on Monticello's operating hours. Monticello is on Route 53 (Thomas Jefferson Parkway) in Albemarle County, near Interstate 64 Exit 121, approximately 5 miles from downtown Charlottesville and the University of Virginia, 70 miles from Richmond, 110 miles from Williamsburg and 125 miles from Washington, D.C.

Amenities 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA Thomas Jefferson's Monticello--Presidents: A Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello Monticello, “Little Mountain,” was the home from 1770 until his death in 1826, of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. It is also an architectural masterpiece. Jefferson was one of America’s first and finest architects and he created, rebuilt, and revised the house throughout his long life. No president’s home than Jefferson's Monticello better reflects the personality of its owner. Jefferson, a true Renaissance man, was a giant among the Founding Fathers. His deeply-rooted disputes with Alexander Hamilton created the two-party system in the United States and launched two competing visions of what the United States should be that dominated 19th-century politics and still survive today. He was also a complex man, made up of penetrating intelligence, insatiable curiosity, high ideals, and deep contradictions. The author of the ringing assertion that “all men are created equal” was also the master of 200 slaves.

The political theorist who saw the small-scale farmer as the bedrock of American democracy was himself the owner of many thousands of acres of land and a proud member of the Virginia plantation aristocracy. In 1769, Jefferson began building his house on the plantation that he inherited from his father, Peter Jefferson. He located it on top of a hill he explored as a child. The main house was still not finished two years later. When he married Martha W. Skelton in 1772, he brought her to the South Pavilion, his bachelor quarters, because the house was not yet habitable. The newlyweds arrived on horseback during a blizzard. The original eight-room house was apparently still incomplete in the 1780s, but even so impressed European visitors with the sophistication of its design. At this stage, Jefferson knew architecture only through books, and his house closely followed the designs of Renaissance architect, Andrea Palladio. Educated at the College of William and Mary, Jefferson was “the penman” of the American Revolution.

His pamphlet, A Summary View of the Rights of British America, written at Monticello and published in 1774, demonstrated his knowledge of the law and his ability to write clearly. By the time Virginia sent him to the Second Continental Congress two years later, everyone recognized him as a fluent writer and superb legal draftsman. The committee appointed to draft a declaration of independence in June 1776 selected him to write it. He submitted his last draft on July 2. Two days later, Congress adopted the final version of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson served as governor of Virginia from 1779 to 1781. During this time, he drafted the important Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, although it did not become law until 1786. Driven from his home by the British and heavily criticized during his last year in office, he decided to abandon politics and retire to Monticello. The death of his wife in 1782 changed his plans. Although he lost his wife at a young age long before residing in the White House, Thomas Jefferson never remarried. They had six children, but only two survived to adulthood.

Returning to politics, he served briefly in Congress under the Articles of Confederation, where he laid the foundations for the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 that established the framework for westward expansion. In 1784, he went to France as a member of a trade commission. A year later, he succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France. Jefferson's office at Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello Jefferson’s five years in France had a dramatic impact both on his life and on his house. He thrived on the Enlightenment principles he encountered in France and was smitten with the new Neoclassical architecture that he saw. He witnessed the early days of the French Revolution, which he called “the first chapter of the history of European liberty". When Jefferson returned to America in 1789, George Washington asked him to serve as his secretary of state. He held that position until 1793, when he resigned after a series of bitter disputes with Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury. Hamilton generally distrusted the common man and favored a strong federal government that would encourage the development of industry in the new nation.

Jefferson, on the other hand, had an abiding faith in the ability of the people to govern themselves and saw no need for a strong central government. His vision of America was of an agrarian nation of educated small farmers. The Constitution made no provision for political parties, but the new Federalist Party soon coalesced around Hamilton and his allies. Jefferson was at the heart of the Democratic-Republican Party. In the election of 1796, Jefferson finished second to John Adams, the Federalist candidate. Under the Constitution at that time, Jefferson became vice president, although the fact that the two men were from different parties guaranteed conflict. In 1800, Jefferson and his running mate, Aaron Burr, received the same number of electoral votes, throwing the decision into the House of Representatives, which finally chose Jefferson in February 1801. The two confused elections led in 1804 to the adoption of the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, which corrected the problems by providing for separate voting for vice president. Many Federalists feared the onset of mob rule in America after Jefferson's election in 1800, but this first transition from one political party to another passed smoothly.

The greatest achievement of Jefferson’s first term was the purchase of the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, more than doubling the size of the United States. Jefferson immediately dispatched Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new territory and to continue to the Pacific Coast. Easily re-elected in 1804, Jefferson had to deal with the effects of the Napoleonic Wars between Britain and France. The Federalists tended to support the English, while the Democratic-Republicans generally leaned towards the French. In 1807, Jefferson sought to avoid war by instituting an embargo prohibiting Americans from trading with both nations. The embargo turned out to do more damage to American traders than it did to the British and the French. It was so unpopular that Jefferson wisely decided not to run for president again in 1808. At the end of his term, he happily retired to Monticello. Dumbwaiter to wine cellar at Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello By 1809, Jefferson finished the rebuilding of Monticello begun in 1796.

He transformed the original eight room Palladian villa, with its tall two-story portico, into a 21-room house designed in the fashionable Neoclassical style he saw in France. The front elevation was a deceptively low horizontal composition centered on a pavilion dominated by a columned portico and a low dome. The renovation kept most of the rooms of the original house, but more than doubled its depth. By moving the front wall forward, Jefferson provided space for two new rooms on either side of a much larger two-story entrance hall. The interior incorporated many examples of Jefferson’s ingenuity: dumbwaiters, disappearing beds, unusual lighting and ventilating arrangements, a duplicate-writing machine, folding doors, bookshelves that become storage boxes, and an extraordinary clock, which still runs by a series of weights and pulleys. Closet-like alcoves hid two steep staircases that led to low bedrooms above the high first floor and to a “ballroom” under the dome. The house lay at the center of a U-shaped plan that embraced two sunken, terrace-covered service wings set into the hillside. House slaves could do their work in these wings out of sight of the public rooms.

Small temple-like pavilions sit at the ends of the wings. Vegetable Garden at Monticello Thomas Jefferson Foundation/Monticello Jefferson, an avid horticulturist, also created the gardens at Monticello, which were a botanic showpiece, a source of food, and an experimental laboratory of ornamental and useful plants from around the world. He experimented with plant species brought over from Europe and was particularly interested in developing vineyards. Jefferson spent most of his retirement at Monticello writing and pursuing his political interests. Continuing his life-long commitment to education, he established the University of Virginia and designed the buildings surrounding its “yard.” Debts inherited from his father-in-law, the cost of entertaining his many visitors, and his inability to curb his lavish tastes contributed to serious financial problems at the end of his life. Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence and only a few hours before his old friend and rival, John Adams. His tomb is in the family cemetery at Monticello.

Deeply in debt after her father’s death, Jefferson's only surviving child sold Monticello and 550 acres of land for $7,000 in 1831. Uriah Levy, a wealthy naval officer who revered Jefferson, bought the neglected property three years later. He renovated the house and apparently kept it and the grounds in good condition until his death in 1858. After a long dispute over Uriah Levy’s will, his 27-year old nephew, Jefferson Levy, acquired full possession in 1879. He again restored the decaying house, opening it to the public. He also enlarged the estate to about 2,000 acres. After resisting all efforts to buy the property for many years and after the Federal Government waived the opportunity to acquire it for the nation, he finally sold Monticello and 650 acres for $500,000 to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation in 1923. The Foundation has meticulously restored the house, grounds, and working plantation landscape to their appearance when Jefferson lived there. Visitors can gain a unique insight into the life and character of this multi-faceted man.

Plan your visit Monticello, located in Albemarle County in the Piedmont region of Central Virginia, has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Click here for the National Historic Landmark registration file: text and photos . Monticello is also designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Monticello is on Va. Route 53 near the intersection of I 64 and Va. Rte. 20, approximately two miles southeast of Charlottesville. Monticello’s street address (for mapping purposes only) is 931 Thomas Jefferson Prkwy., Charlottesville. The house and grounds are open daily, March-October from 8:00am to 5pm; and November-February from 9:00am to 4:30pm, except for Christmas. Entry is permitted until the posted closing time. The grounds are closed approximately one hour later. There is an admission fee. A variety of tours and activities are offered. For more information visit the Monticello website or call 434-984-9822. The Homes of Thomas Jefferson - Coldwell Banker Blue Matter General The Homes of Thomas Jefferson Founding Father. Principal Author of the Declaration of Independence. Farmer.

Author. Scholar. Third President of the United States. As if these titles were not enough, Thomas Jefferson also can add owner of one of the most famous homes in the country to his list of accomplishments David Marine Sep 14, 2012 Founding Father. Principal Author of the Declaration of Independence. Farmer. Author. Scholar. Third President of the United States. As if these titles were not enough, Thomas Jefferson also can add owner of one of the most famous homes in the country to his list of accomplishments. While many people know about Monticello, Jefferson also lived in some other interesting homes throughout his life. Let’s take a look. Poplar Forest Known as the first octagonal home in the United States, this retreat outside is located in what is now Forest, Virginia just miles outside of Lynchburg. Thomas Jefferson built this estate towards the end of his life as an escape from the hordes of visitors that came to Monticello. It was in essence a retreat, or vacation home, for this Founding Father. Jefferson is quoted as saying “It is the most valuable of my possessions” when speaking about his home at Poplar Forest.

Jefferson intended to give the home to his youngest daughter, Mary Jefferson, who unfortunately died at the early age of 26. Many refer to this home as an embodiment of Jefferson himself as it is representative of many forms of excellence including architecture, landscaping and an engineering marvel. Poplar Forest is one of only two homes that Thomas Jefferson designed and built for himself. Find out more information on this national landmark at PoplarForest.org . Tuckahoe Plantation Credited as being the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson, it is currently part of a historic district located near Manakin Virginia. The home is estimated to have been built in 1710 although construction on it and the surrounding grounds lasted into the 1740’s. Through additions of rooms and living spaces, the home was made into an “H” shaped structure with each wing mirroring the other and connected by a main hallway. Some of the notable elements of the house include a gabled roof, 2 brick chimneys on either side of the home and beautifully wooded grounds. A small schoolhouse was built close to the home and is where Thomas Jefferson first received his education. Jefferson’s parents and families are both buried in the cemetery on the property.

To learn more about Tuckahoe Plantation and its history click here . Monticello After the White House, Monticello is arguably the most famous residence in the United States. Designed by Thomas Jefferson the home was built to reflect Italian Renaissance architecture. Located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, the home is perched on top of an 850 ft. high hill giving it an exceptional view of the surrounding grounds and area. The decor and other elements of the home are truly one of a kind. In the ceiling of the main entrance, Jefferson had a wind plate installed and connected to a weather vane on the roof so that just by looking up one could tell which way the wind was blowing. On the exterior East wall of the house is clock that only has an hour hand because Jefferson felt that was all that was necessary for day laborers to be able to tell what time it was. Inside the home are some amazing historical touches. The entrance hall has a collection of items gathered during the expedition of Lewis and Clark. The library is a much smaller possession of books than Jefferson’s original collection which was actually used to start the Library of Congress. Yes, Jefferson was an avid reader.

Monticello is estimated to boast over 11,000 square feet of living space in addition to having one of the most exceptional vegetable gardens and is considered an architectural marvel. If you’ve never seen Monticello in person, it’s well worth a trip. Find out more at Monticello.org . Poplar Forest image courtesy of Poplar Forest on Facebook Tuckahoe Plantation photo copyright 2010 Hannah V. Warfield Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson 1743-1826 by Christine Gonzalez Thomas Jefferson was the 3rd president of the United States, during the years 1801 through 1809. He lead a Democratic-Republican party. He married, went to college, and accomplished many things for the United States. Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at Shadwell, Virginia. He moved to Tuckahoe at 3 years of age. He went to a little school house, the only students were his three sisters and him. He was only 11 years old when his father died. Thomas loved to read and write. For Thomas passion of books and education, he went to college.

He learned history, literature, and more. He also danced well, and played the violin. In March 1760, he enrolled in William and Marys College. He graduated in the year 1962. He left to study law. After five years of college he admitted to the bar; he began practicing law. In 1769 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. Thomas married Martha Wayes Skeleton on January 1st 1772. They had six children. Only 2 girls had normal lives. Martha died in the year 1782. Before his years of presidency he had accomplished many things. In the year 1775 he was elected a delegate to the First Continental Congress. In 1776 he chose to write the Declaration of Independence. Freedom of religion was so important to Jefferson that in the year 1779 he introduced the "Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom" to the House of Delegates. In the bill Jefferson said," Almighty God hath created the mind free." The house finally passed the bill in 1786 while Jefferson was in Paris.

In 1790-1793 he was Secretary of State under George Washington. In 1796 Jefferson accepted Democratic-Republican nomination for president, but was defeated by John Adams. In the year 1800 Thomas defeated Aaron Burn on the election of becoming president. Jefferson was announced president in the year 1801. In 1803 the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France. In the year 1804 Jefferson was elected a second term as president. Later, a Peace Treaty was signed with Tripoli, ending a four year war. Jefferson declared the importation of African slaves into the United States became illegal in the year 1808. The 1807 Enlargo Act, prohibiting exports and sailing to other ports was replaced by a law banning trade with Britain and France in 1809. Thomas Jefferson retired in the year 1809. He left to his Virginia Estate, Monticello. Jeffersons retirement years were busy. During this time, the Monticello work force crafted the plans for the house and gardens. In the year 1819 Thomas founded University of Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson died July 4, 1826, at his home estate, Monticello. When he died, all of his possessions, including Monticello were sold. Jefferson once referred to his White House as a splendid misery he did not bother to list them among his great accomplishments. Thomas Jefferson had extraordinary range of talents, and a strong thirst for knowledge. Thats what made him a powerful president. Monticello - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Google The First Monticello Born on April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson grew up at Shadwell, one of the largest tobacco plantations in Virginia . At the age of 21, he inherited several thousand acres of land that encompassed the family estate as well as his favorite boyhood haunt: a nearby hilltop called Monticello (Italian for “little mountain”) where he resolved to build his own home. In 1768, a year after the future president was admitted to the Virginia bar, workers broke ground on the site, beginning a decades-long process that would captivate Jefferson, bankrupt his family and produce one of America’s most iconic and historically significant architectural masterpieces. Did You Know?

"I am as happy no where else and in no other society,” Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “and all my wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello.” In those days, it was common for landowners to choose a stock design for their home from an English architectural handbook; a contractor would then oversee the project from start to finish. But this particular landowner was Thomas Jefferson, the quintessential polymath, whose passions ranged from political philosophy, archaeology and linguistics to music, botany, bird watching and pasta making. (At a dinner honoring 49 American Nobel Prize winners, John F. Kennedy famously quipped, “I think that this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”) Remembered for drafting the Declaration of Independence , Jefferson also drafted the blueprints for Monticello’s neoclassical mansion, outbuildings, gardens and grounds. Though he had no formal training, he had read extensively about architecture, particularly that of ancient Rome and the Italian Renaissance .

Years later, he would become an accomplished architect whose designs included the Virginia state capitol and the main buildings at the University of Virginia. Monticello was unique not only in its design but also in its use of local resources. At a time when most brick was still imported from England, Jefferson chose to mold and bake his own bricks with clay found on the property. Monticello’s grounds provided most of the lumber, stone and limestone, and even the nails used to construct the buildings were manufactured on site. The Second Monticello In 1770, the family house at Shadwell burned down, forcing Jefferson to move into Monticello’s South Pavilion, an outbuilding, until the main house was completed. Two years later, he was joined by his new bride, Martha Wayles Skelton, the 23-year-old widowed daughter of a prominent Virginia lawyer. The couple had six children together, two of whom lived to adulthood, before Martha’s death in 1782. Devastated by the loss of his wife, Jefferson moved to France, where he served as the U.S. ambassador from 1785 to 1789.

He was immediately struck by the architecture of the buildings there, particularly a certain Paris home with a U-shaped design, colonnades and a domed roof. Along with a massive trove of art, furniture and books, he returned home with a new vision for the estate. Among other enhancements, he added a central hallway, a mezzanine bedroom floor and an octagonal dome–the first of its kind in the United States. This “second Monticello” was double the size of its original incarnation, designed to accommodate not only Jefferson’s steady stream of houseguests but also his boundless collections of books, European art, Native American artifacts, natural specimens and mementos from his travels. Monticello was also filled with Jefferson’s unique–and often ingenious–inventions. These included a revolving bookstand, a copying machine, a spherical sundial and a toenail clipper, among dozens of other devices. Monticello’s Gardens In addition to its architecture, Monticello is renowned for its extensive gardens, which Jefferson, an avid horticulturist, designed, tended and painstakingly monitored.

Every year that he resided at Monticello, he kept a log of its flora–as well as the insects and diseases that ravaged them–in a diary known as the Garden Book. He grew hundreds of varieties of fruits and vegetables there, using cultivation techniques that were revolutionary for his time. A connoisseur of European wines, Jefferson also attempted to plant a number of different grape varietals at Monticello; although his vines largely failed to thrive, he developed a reputation as America’s first serious viticulturist. Monticello the Plantation Monticello was not just a residence but also a working plantation, home to roughly 130 enslaved African Americans whose duties included tending its gardens and livestock, plowing its fields and working in its on-site textile factory. One of these slaves was Sally Hemings , who as a teenager accompanied Jefferson and his young daughters to Paris and later served as a chambermaid and seamstress at Monticello. For nearly two centuries, it has been speculated that Jefferson and Hemings had as many as six children together.

These claims were bolstered by a 1998 DNA study that revealed a genetic link between their respective descendants (although some have argued that Jefferson’s younger brother, Randolph, could also have been the father). While the true nature of Jefferson’s relationship with Sally Hemings may never come to light, it would be impossible to tell the story of Monticello without acknowledging the irony of a home whose library shelves overflowed with the great works of the Enlightenment yet were dusted by slaves. This paradox is inherent in the legacy of Jefferson himself, who wrote that all men were created equal yet made no secret of his ambivalence toward the institution of slavery. Monticello After Jefferson Known for spending lavishly on books, wine and, above all else, his beloved Monticello, Jefferson left his heirs under a small mountain of debt when he died on July 4, 1826. His daughter, Martha Randolph, was forced to sell the estate, which had already entered the early stages of decay due to years of neglect.

In 1836, it was bought by Uriah Levy, a real estate speculator who was the first Jewish American to serve an entire career as a commissioned Navy officer; he and his nephew, Jefferson Monroe Levy, are largely responsible for its restoration and preservation. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, a nonprofit organization, purchased the property in 1923 and continues to operate it as a museum and educational institution. Tags The Places Thomas Jefferson Called Home - Coldwell Banker Blue Matter General The Places Thomas Jefferson Called Home I first wrote about the homes of Thomas Jefferson last September I knew a little about his most famous residence, Monticello, but little else besides that. Turns out pretty much every place Thomas Jefferson has called home has some interesting architectural element or historical significance to it. David Marine Jul 2, 2013 I first wrote about the homes of Thomas Jefferson last September I knew a little about his most famous residence, Monticello, but little else besides that. Turns out pretty much every place Thomas Jefferson has called home has some interesting architectural element or historical significance to it.

As we look this week at the “Home of the Brave” and the places some of our nation’s founding figures called home, we thought we should revisit the places Thomas Jefferson called home. Founding Father. Principal Author of the Declaration of Independence. Farmer. Author. Scholar. Third President of the United States. As if these titles were not enough, Thomas Jefferson also can add owner of one of the most famous homes in the country to his list of accomplishments. While many people know about Monticello, Jefferson also lived in some other interesting homes throughout his life. Let’s take a look. Poplar Forest Known as the first octagonal home in the United States, this retreat outside is located in what is now Forest, Virginia just miles outside of Lynchburg. Thomas Jefferson built this estate towards the end of his life as an escape from the hordes of visitors that came to Monticello. It was in essence a retreat, or vacation home, for this Founding Father. Jefferson is quoted as saying “It is the most valuable of my possessions” when speaking about his home at Poplar Forest. Jefferson intended to give the home to his youngest daughter, Mary Jefferson, who unfortunately died at the early age of 26.

Many refer to this home as an embodiment of Jefferson himself as it is representative of many forms of excellence including architecture, landscaping and an engineering marvel. Poplar Forest is one of only two homes that Thomas Jefferson designed and built for himself. Find out more information on this national landmark at PoplarForest.org . Tuckahoe Plantation Credited as being the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson, it is currently part of a historic district located near Manakin Virginia. The home is estimated to have been built in 1710 although construction on it and the surrounding grounds lasted into the 1740’s. Through additions of rooms and living spaces, the home was made into an “H” shaped structure with each wing mirroring the other and connected by a main hallway. Some of the notable elements of the house include a gabled roof, 2 brick chimneys on either side of the home and beautifully wooded grounds. A small schoolhouse was built close to the home and is where Thomas Jefferson first received his education. Jefferson’s parents and families are both buried in the cemetery on the property. To learn more about Tuckahoe Plantation and its history click here .

Monticello After the White House, Monticello is arguably the most famous residence in the United States. Designed by Thomas Jefferson the home was built to reflect Italian Renaissance architecture. Located just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, the home is perched on top of an 850 ft. high hill giving it an exceptional view of the surrounding grounds and area. The decor and other elements of the home are truly one of a kind. In the ceiling of the main entrance, Jefferson had a wind plate installed and connected to a weather vane on the roof so that just by looking up one could tell which way the wind was blowing. On the exterior East wall of the house is clock that only has an hour hand because Jefferson felt that was all that was necessary for day laborers to be able to tell what time it was. Inside the home are some amazing historical touches. The entrance hall has a collection of items gathered during the expedition of Lewis and Clark. The library is a much smaller possession of books than Jefferson’s original collection which was actually used to start the Library of Congress. Yes, Jefferson was an avid reader.

Monticello is estimated to boast over 11,000 square feet of living space in addition to having one of the most exceptional vegetable gardens and is considered an architectural marvel. If you’ve never seen Monticello in person, it’s well worth a trip. Find out more at Monticello.org . Poplar Forest image courtesy of Poplar Forest on Facebook Tuckahoe Plantation photo copyright 2010 Hannah V. Warfield About Thomas Jefferson - Monticello Associates Monticello Associates Home » About » About Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson and His Estate, Monticello Thomas Jefferson April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826 Born in Shadwell, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson is well known for authoring the U.S. Declaration of Independence. In addition, he served as the nation’s first secretary of state (1789-93), as its second vice president (1797-1801), and as its third president (1801-09). Early Years Thomas Jefferson spent his childhood roaming the woods and studying his books on a remote plantation in the Virginia Piedmont.

Thanks to the prosperity of his father, Jefferson had an excellent education. After years in boarding school, where he excelled in classical languages, Jefferson enrolled in the College of William and Mary, taking classes in science, mathematics, rhetoric, philosophy, and literature. Presidential Years Jefferson served as secretary of state under Washington, but quarrels with Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton over his vision of a centralized national bank caused Jefferson to resign his post in 1793. In the election of 1796, Jefferson was the favorite of Democratic-Republican opponents of the Washington administration. He came in second to Federalist John Adams in Electoral College votes and became Adams’ vice president. In the 1800 race, the political tide turned against the Federalist Party of Adams and Hamilton, and after a bitterly contested election, a tie vote in the Electoral College, and a protracted deadlock in the House of Representatives, Jefferson emerged as the winner. In his inaugural address, Jefferson pled for national unity in an attempt to heal the wounds of a vicious campaign and to gain support from the Federalist-controlled Congress.

Due to a relatively placid first term, prosperity, lower taxes, and a reduction of the national debt, Jefferson won a landslide victory in 1804. Post Presidential Years On March 4, 1809, after watching the inauguration of his close friend and successor James Madison, Jefferson returned to Virginia to live out the rest of his days as “The Sage of Monticello.” Jefferson’s primary pastime was rebuilding, remodeling, and improving his beloved home and estate. He was working on the fourth iteration of the estate at the time of his death. Jefferson died in bed at Monticello on July 4, 1826 at the age of 83. Monticello Associates Monticello Associates was named by its founder and president, Grady Durham. The name reflects Durham’s admiration of Thomas Jefferson and his famous Virginia estate as well as their shared values of self-reliance, intelligence, honesty, and hard work. Combining these values with Durham’s belief that the firm must be positioned to adjust to the ever-changing markets, Monticello Associates has been providing world-class asset management consulting services for nearly 25 years. “Determine never to be idle.

No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.” Copyright © 2016, Monticello Associates, Inc. All rights reserved. Photography © Frank Ooms

Question: What was the name of Thomas Jefferson's house?
Answer: Monticello