---To the left: the front of the house.
---To the right: the rear.
We spent many hours touring the mansion & grounds, both of which were of his own design. Jefferson was a philosopher of the American Revolution, the founder of the University of Virginia, and the principle author of the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration states that "all men are created equal" and have a right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
Yet, Jefferson and his wife had over 150 slaves (most of whom came to him as an inheritance from his father and father-in-law) -- - even his steward, Isaac Jefferson, was his slave. It is rumored that, after his wife died, one of his slaves, Sally Hemings (a slave half-sister of his wife), was his mistress and bore him a child. (You can read more about this if you "google" Thomas Jeferson's slaves.)
Yet, Jefferson and his wife had over 150 slaves (most of whom came to him as an inheritance from his father and father-in-law) -- - even his steward, Isaac Jefferson, was his slave. It is rumored that, after his wife died, one of his slaves, Sally Hemings (a slave half-sister of his wife), was his mistress and bore him a child. (You can read more about this if you "google" Thomas Jeferson's slaves.)
Monticello's enslaved laborers worked from dawn to dusk, six days a week, and they performed tasks outside working hours, for which Jefferson paid them. Before his death, Jefferson freed all of Sally's five children and Sally was at his deathbed.
Monticello plantation is located near Charlottesville, VA, and was the center of Jefferson's world. It was a house, a farm, a plantation, an ornamental landscape, a small mountain, and a large and diverse community. It encapsulated his interests, talents, ideals, ambitions, dreams, and realities.
It was home to Jefferson, his family and extended family. His gardens were laboratories for the cultivation of myriad species of trees, flowers, vegetables and fruit. Despite his efforts, the plantation was unprofitable and he died in debt, forcing his family to sell the land, house, household contents, and enslaved workers.
Monticello plantation is located near Charlottesville, VA, and was the center of Jefferson's world. It was a house, a farm, a plantation, an ornamental landscape, a small mountain, and a large and diverse community. It encapsulated his interests, talents, ideals, ambitions, dreams, and realities.
It was home to Jefferson, his family and extended family. His gardens were laboratories for the cultivation of myriad species of trees, flowers, vegetables and fruit. Despite his efforts, the plantation was unprofitable and he died in debt, forcing his family to sell the land, house, household contents, and enslaved workers.
