Visiting Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

I've always wanted to see Monticello, the home of
our country's 3rd president, Thomas Jefferson.
How happy I was to make the trip to Virginia for a visit!
A history buff's destination to cross this off the Bucket List.

Monticello is featured on the back of the U.S. nickel.
Tour guides refer to the photo I took above as "the nickel shot."
It is actually not the front of the home, 
where visitors were received in the main entrance hall,
but the rear of the home, most used by family.

My husband and I enjoyed learning about Jefferson

and the architecture of his beloved plantation.
As expected, no photos could be taken inside.

The 2 acre vegetable garden is located on the terraced hillside.

Jefferson was involved in the planting, cultivation and harvesting of over 

330 fruit & vegetable varieties, faithfully recording every detail in his journal.

This is Jefferson's Garden Pavillion, where he came to relax and read in the evenings.

It overlooks a vineyard, an orchard, and plantings of figs and berries.

A picturesque mountain-top view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Here I am beside one of the slave quarters along Mulberry Row,

where slaves labored as skilled blacksmiths, tinsmiths, 

spinners, weavers, nail-makers, and stablemen. 

This chimney is part of the ruins of the original Joiner's Shop, 

where woodworking and furniture making took place.

The decorative iron gate to the Monticello Graveyard,

with its ornamental "TJ" monogram.

Jefferson's obelisk tombstone marks his final resting place.

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Jefferson chose what he wanted to engraved on the obelisk, what he considered 
to be his greatest accomplishments. He died on July 4, 1826, 
exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Check out the Monticello website for more information.

Monticello is located at
931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottesville, Virginia.