Friday, October 19
We were up and ready for an excellent breakfast by 9. The English Inn had one of the best buffet
breakfasts we have had recently. Spoke
with the black cook who explained what he was cooking – they had it all – bacon,
scrambled eggs, gravy, grits, a breakfast casserole, oatmeal, and much
more. He seemed to really enjoy his
job!
Our plans were to visit both Monticello – Thomas Jefferson’s
Home and James Monroe’s Highlands today before heading to Steve and Margaret’s
home in Fairfield. We found our way to
Monticello by 10 AM and realized it was going to be like Mt. Vernon – lots of
school children! We got a ticket time
for the house tour at 11:40. We watched the film, visited exhibits and the gift shop
while we waited for our tour time. The exhibits were excellent – particularly
the ones about the construction of the house.
A self-taught architect, Jefferson planned for and executed building
Monticello not once but twice. The exhibits on the Declaration of Independence
were also good – all electronic.
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| Waiting for our house tour |
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| Beauty Bush and a few flowers still blooming in gardens |
They provided a shuttle bus from the visitor center
to the house which was at the top of the mountainside. You could tour the kitchen wing and the cellar before your
tour time. The home is very interesting
with many unique features designed by Jefferson. All these colonial plantations now include
exhibits featuring the contributions of the slaves who helped run the
plantation. It seems in their writing
all these early presidents did not like slavery; but none could find a way to
continue the countries growth and prosperity without slavery – indeed they did
play an important role in the beginning and development of the USA.
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| Kitchen |
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| Wine Cellar |
The home was very interesting and quite different from
Montpelier. Jefferson’s collections and
the French designs made for interesting décor.
His bed chamber, library, and work room were the heart of the home where
only he, his manservant, and his chambermaid – Sally Hemmings - were able to be
in the rooms without a special invitation. This was in the years after the
death of his wife. She lived only 10
years after their marriage and never saw the completion of Monticello.
The entrance hall and other public rooms were fascinating
with so many original furnishings. Jefferson kept very detail records and all
the furnishings that have not been located, are exact copies made from notes
and drawings. Again, no photos inside
the house and the tour did not include the second floor. It was very enjoyable. We had an excellent
guide who took us through the entire house. Luckily our tour group was all
adults – I believe they gave separate tours for the children. There were a number of children present; but
it was not overrun as it seemed to be when we were at Mt. Vernon in May. The only place there seemed to be a crowd
was in the gift shop. We were alone in
the gift shop early when we looked around; but it was overrun with children
when we came back before we left to make purchases.
Learned so many things I may or may not have known at one
point – Jefferson was of course our 3rd President, also Vice President, Secretary of State, Diplomat,
Ambassador to France, Governor of VA, Author of Declaration of Independence,
Responsible for Louisiana Purchase, supported the Lewis and Clark Expedition
and much more. In his retirement he
founded the University of VA. His
contributions to our country are numerous but he is best known for his philosophies
for religious and political freedom as well as the importance of educational
opportunities. He was also a lawyer,
self-taught architect, farmer and scientist.
The setting for Monticello is beautiful and like Montpelier
has stunning views of the blue ridge mountains. On the trip back down the mountain to the
Visitor Center you could stop at the graves and then catch a later bus for the
remainder of the trip. We were hungry so
after our tour we had a sub sandwich in the café, made a few purchases in the
gift shop, and were on our way about 1:30.
Monticello like Montpelier was lost by the family soon after Jefferson’s
death due to debts. At that time the
presidents did not receive any stipend or payments as they do today…so often
these founding fathers served their country to their own personal financial
loss.
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| View towards the Blue Ridge - in Jefferson's time he could see the buildings at the University of VA being built |
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| Front of Monticello |
A short drive 10 minute drive from Monticello was the
location of a home of James Monroe (our 5
th president from 1816 -
1824) – Ash Lawn or Highlands. The Monroe family lived at Highlands for 24
years. He was very good friends with his neighbor Thomas Jefferson.
The actual home is no longer; having
burned between 1830 and 1850.
Monroe
sold Highlands to the Bank of USA in 1828 after his presidency and they lived
nearer to Washington in a home that still exists today as a private residence.
A Jewish gentleman bought Highlands years
later thinking the yellow home on the property had been the home of Monroe. He
constructed elaborate gardens and acquired the statue of Monroe that graces the
garden today to honor him.
He wanted the
home to be open to the public.
It is
today operated by a trust.
It was only
in 2016 when a new curator began to ask questions and excavations were
conducted that the true history of the buildings became known. The trust hopes
to find records of the fire; but so far have only established that indeed the
home did burn.
The only building
currently existing here that was here in Monroe’s time was the Presidential
Guest House, built in 1818.
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| Lane as we enter Highlands |
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Another of Monroe's accomplishments - the National Road first National Highway
(this is the mold for the cement markers along highway) |
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| Boxwood Gardens |
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| Monroe Statue |
The location is underwhelming after the other two homes; but gives an understanding of Monroe’s 50
years of public service and true dedication to our country. It was amazing to learn of all his
accomplishments: Served in Army crossing
the Delaware with Washington in Revolution, Member VA general assembly,
representative of Confederation Congress, US Senator from VA, Governor of
Virginia twice, Minister to France twice, Minister to England, Minister to
Spain, negotiated purchase of Florida from Spain, negotiated Louisiana Purchase
from France, Secretary of State and Secretary of War. He is well known as an early diplomat – known
for the “Monroe Doctrine”. I was
certainly impressed with his accomplishments!
We then set the GPS for the Cathcarts’ in Fairfield and
arrived there about an hour later. We enjoyed a wonderful visit with them and
BBQ at Foothill Mama’s BBQ Joint.
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