Just warning you, this is a picture heavy post, with more than 50 photos, sorry, I didn't know what to cut!
Last you heard, we were going to do Mt. Vernon after Schuyler, but we changed our plans last minute(no surprise, right?!) We plan on doing a just Virginia trip and will see Mt. Vernon then.
After a morning in Schuyler and visiting all things Waltons, we headed back to Charlottesville to tour Thomas Jefferson's Monticello(little mountain).
Here is a model of Monticello in the museum... what an awesome dollhouse that would be :)
At the top, the grounds were just beautiful...
The kids...
Hubby and me...
More views...
We weren't allowed to take any pictures inside the house, not sure why, but followed the rules. The house was nice, but not grand. Jefferson wasn't about showy things, but about innovation and technology... incorporating the skylights that he saw in Europe into his home along with in the wall beds and dumbwaiters. He hated big entryway staircases so his home's staircase was tucked away in the middle of the house and was tiny and curvy and only 22" wide. It looked like a small back stair in an old farmhouse.
We were allowed to take pictures outside and in the slave and worker areas...
Lots of gorgeous scenic views all around. They were probably even better views in Jefferson's time because most of the trees at the top of the mountain had been cleared to build the house. He regretted that decision though when summer rolled around and there was no shade. All the trees there now were grown after Jefferson.
All of us...
These flowers were spectacular...
Two wings stretched out on either side of the home. These wings contained all the working quarters for the running of the house. They were partially underground and ran beneath the house, giving the slaves and workers access from the kitchens and laundry to the main house. Because of Jefferson innovative design, they also created long decks for the house and the roofs were designed to capture water.
96% of the outside of the home is original...
Neat trees...
View of the working quarters...
The smoke house room(kept under lock and key)
The cook's room. Nicer than most with a real bed, brick floors, and a fireplace...
The kitchen...
Other side...
I liked the lines of these shelves...
More walkways...
Stables...
The grounds...
His weather vane... he recorded the weather daily and was one of his main hobbies...
The weather vane above is connected to this one in the roof of the porch, so that he could easily see the wind direction and record the time...He loved clocks too...
The gardens...
Mulberry row runs along the gardens.. this is where the majority of the slave quarters used to be, along with the blacksmith shop, woodmaker shop, privy, and other buildings needed to run the home and farm.
More neat trees...
This was my favorite view, the hilltop was just so perfect and looked like a painting...
The walkway leading to the cemetery ...
Thomas Jefferson's grave...
His mother's grave...
People are still being buried in the cemetery, there was a grave that was quite recent as it didn't have a stone yet and the straw was still visible with new grass growing...
Back inside the museum, a couple things caught my eye... these are the seed varieties they planted...lots!
And a sewing kit...
Michie tavern, Virginia's oldest Inn....It's at the base of Monticello....
I wanted to see Ash Lawn-Highland(James Monroe's home) but they were already closed too, plus it was raining. Here is the entry to the property. It's about 2 miles from Monticello.
Oh, and this blue ball with zinc lid was bought at the general store in from of the Hamner home, I forgot to show it to you yesterday. No recipe in it though :O
We decided to drive straight through to home instead of breaking it up between two days. We left at 6 in the morning and pulled in our driveway at 7:50 pm that night. It was a long day but we are glad to be home.
Crossing the bridge to Maine...
Maine is pretty, but it doesn't compare to Virginia in beauty...
I'm taking the weekend off. See you all on Monday,
Tiff
Wonderful trip! I have enjoyed your pics along the way. I have wanted to visit "The Waltons" for a long time now with your pictures I have moved it up on our bucket list.
ReplyDeleteMonticello is an amazing place. I got to visit several years ago and would certainly go back.
Thanks for taking us along with you and your family!
I am glad to see that you and your family were able to see and enjoy some of the things around here. I live in Lovingston which is also in Nelson County where Schuyler is. I am also a HUGE Waltons fan. Thanks so much for sharing your pictures.
ReplyDeleteCindy
So glad you had a nice time and glad you made it home safely!
ReplyDelete