Our last history lesson of our September vacation. It was so fun, so educational, so memorable!
The front of Monticello. Thomas Jefferson started building it at age 26.
The back -- what you see on the nickel.
Author of the Declaration of Independence, Father of the University of Virginia, inventor, avid reader, scientist, gardener, and so much more!
Cyprus Vine - he had a very large variety of flowers in his garden also. He liked to grow new things from other countries as well.
Thomas Jefferson loved experimental gardening! He had over 330 vegetable varieties and 150 for varieties in his garden, plus his orchards, herbs, and vineyards! Peas were his favorite vegetable and he grew 125 kinds!
Very. Tall. Corn.
Like flowers, there is a huge array of trees on the property as there were in his day. A huge variety of types and from all around the world. This is a Paper Mulberry.
Slave quarters. Although Thomas Jefferson openly opposed slavery, he always owned slaves - 600 in his lifetime with almost 200 at any given time.
He made improvements to the dumbwaiter which is essentially an elevator for home goods between floors.
Jefferson invented quote a few things in his lifetime. He was an avid reader (owned over 8000 books during his life) and designed this revolving book stand with 5 rectangular book platforms. Awesome!
He designed his tombstone and wrote the inscription on it.
