Over Memorial Day Weekend, we went on a road trip to Charlottesville, VA. We drove through Virginia’s green countryside and pulled up to C’Ville’s historic brick-laid downtown mall just in time for breakfast at The Nook. The small cafe, built in the late 1880’s, was teeming with happy patrons and busy waitresses. We sat at an antique mahogany booth and ordered freshly squeezed Florida orange juice, sweet basil and Roma tomato omelettes, a side of applewood smoked bacon, and a stack of chocolate chip pancakes. I would drive all the way back to C’Ville in a heartbeat just to have that breakfast again! We spent the entire day touring Thomas Jefferson’s home at Monticello. The 5,000 acre plantation was completely designed by Jefferson including the impressive house, extensive vegetable garden, and fruit orchards. Monticello was also home to several slaves and their families including the cook, house servants, skilled workers, and farm laborers who lived in slave quarters on Mulberry Row. We went on three tours: the Slavery at Monticello Tour, the House Tour, and the Gardens and Grounds Tour. It was a gorgeous day, but it was nice to step out of the sun and into the house to explore the first floor rooms of Jefferson’s home. Monticello was built in Roman neoclassical style architecture with a total of 43 rooms in the entire structure, 11 of which are on the first floor. He had great ideas for design and space.
The compass rose on the ceiling of the Northeastern porch was connected to the weather vane on the roof so Jefferson didn’t have to go outside to tell the direction of the wind.
Jefferson made sure he could always keep an eye on his beloved University of Virginia by peering through his telescope and a small opening through the trees. The white building is the Rotunda at UVA.
Monticello’s West Lawn:
The winding flower walk next to the fish pond. Jefferson had the pond stocked with fish so they could be served at the table whenever he liked.
The roof of the kitchen also served as a sundeck.
The impressive kitchen. Jefferson had his enslaved cooks trained to prepare French cuisine.
Beer, cider, and wine were stored at Monticello. Bottle-sized dumbwaiters from the cellar to the dining room made it easy to serve.
The view of the house and west lawn from The Grove. Jefferson designated 18 acres on the northwest side of Monticello to be an ‘ornamental forest’ where he could enjoy his love for trees.
The 1,000 foot long garden terrace was a source of food as well as a place to satisfy his interest in farming and gardening.
Jefferson’s orchard and vineyard:
Me and TJ outside the museum:
