On the last day in DC we decided to drive out to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home.
Caleb and I had both been to the home of George Washington at Mount Vernon in our past visits to DC. We were both interested in going again, but decided that time would be better spent driving out to Monticello.
Now, for those of you that haven’t been, it’s NOT a short drive from DC. It took us about two hours to get there, but I have to say that out of all the driving we did on the east coast, that two hour stretch was by far my favorite. We wound our way through country farms, rolling hills, horses and other livestock, while the sun beamed down. It was breathtaking.
When we arrived, I was amazed at the size of the welcome center and at how new it was. I was just expecting his house out in the middle of nowhere with a ticket window to the side of the property. I underestimated how popular the place would be.
It was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Some people don’t seem all that interested in walking around the homes of historical figures, but I get some kind of sick joy out of it. I LOVE going to places where people lived. I enjoy picturing them roaming the halls, reading books in their libraries and eating in their dining room. And Jefferson’s was more extraordinary than any others I’ve been to because of the design and thought you could see in every detail of the house.
When you walk in, you’re greeted with a history lesson. He has everything from dinosaur bones to Native American headdresses hanging on the walls because he wanted his guests to think about the history of the country.
The rest of the house speaks to Jefferson’s want of simplicity and sense. He has a pulley system installed in the dining room so that someone doesn’t have to walk all the way to the cellar in order to get another bottle of wine. He has his bed placed in the center of his living quarters in-between two walls, so as not to waste precious space. The list goes on and on.
I wish I could show you pictures from inside the house, but alas, photos were not allowed. The best I can do is some shots of the grounds. If you’re really interested in shots of the inside, head over to the house’s image gallery.
I hope you’re having a wonderful Monday!
From Dad:
Great shots. Makes me wish we had gone when we were in Washington.