Thomas Jefferson's MONTICELLO
For more than forty years (1768-1809), Thomas Jefferson designed and redesigned his mountaintop home, creating an architectural masterpiece that reflects his ideas and evolving vision. Monticello was home to Jefferson and his family, generations of enslaved people, and a house that welcomed visitors from around the globe. Through a century of research, Monticello is restored to how it appeared during Thomas Jefferson's retirement years (1809 - 1826).
By considering the challenges and triumphs of the American Revolution and the early United States, this tour reveals how ordinary people became leaders and encourages visitors to consider how a democracy was born through disagreement, civil discourse, and dedication to shared value."
I was intrigued by these weights of the Great Clock that shows the second, minute, hour, and day of the week. It is showcased in the Entrance Hall (below).
It's 10:30 and the tour has begun. We start as most visitors to Monticello do, in the Entrance Hall.
This is the Great Clock whose weights are in the cellar. "The face has a main dial with hour and minute hands with a small secondary dial with a sweeping seconds hand. The clock is powered by two sets of cannonball-like weights (eighteen pounds each) strung on ropes, which independently drive its ticking and the striking of a gong on the roof. As the clock winds down, the weights descend on either side of the clock via a pulley system and travel down the corners of the room, passing through holes in the floor to the cellar below. Labels are affixed on the wall along the path of the running ("ticking") weights and indicate the days of the week." Truthfully, that would be so handy, especially on this trip
In 1823 Jefferson wrote that "The letters of a person, especially one whose business has been chiefly transacted by letters, form the only full and genuine journal of his life." His surviving letters give insight into Jefferson's vast interests and reveal much about his personality.
I also loved his bedroom. Jefferson saw alcove beds during his years in France, and admired the space-saving qualities of these beds built into walls. Upon his return from Europe, Jefferson redesigned Monticello, adding at least one alcove (and sometimes two) in every bedroom. A continual innovator, he varied the design for his own bed, leaving both sides open to loosely connect his bedroom with his study. He also saved space by placing closets in the walls over his and other beds. His closet -- which has openings for air and light -- was accessible via a small ladder kept at the head of the bed. The man was so forward thinking. Wow.
In the Dining Room, Jefferson, his family, and many guests took meals twice a day. Common to the time, Jefferson used folding tables so that, after meals were finished, the room could be used to entertain. I love the color.
Yes, this is the famous dumbwaiter!
Back to the topic of this tour. Adams and Jefferson met at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1775. They served on the Committee of Five in 1776, where Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence and Adams strongly championed its adoption on the floor of Congress. In addition, they worked closely together in Europe representing the fledgling United States. Their families traveled together and by all accounts they were buddies. Jefferson wrote that he and Adams were often separated by "different conclusions we had drawn from our political reading." The two maintained their friendship despite their political differences until 1801, the year that Jefferson became president. It was a very bitter election, which Jefferson won, leading to a decade-long estrangement.
Our tour ended with the story of this chair.
The Rising Sun Chair was crafted in 1779 by Philadelphia cabinetmaker John Folwell. George Washington sat in the chair as the presiding officer throughout the Constitutional Convention at Independence Hall. At the close of the convention on September 17, 1787, Benjamin Franklin observed the half-sun carved into the chair's crest rail and famously remarked: "I have often looked at that picture behind the president without being able to tell whether it was a rising or a setting sun. But now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun." He said it to symbolize his shift from doubt to hope for the new American republic. It was with this quote that the tour ended.
How fun it was to meet Thomas Jefferson (as portrayed by veteran historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker). For 30 minutes, it was like we were in the company of our President.
No history lesson is complete without a visit to the cemetery. Before his death, Thomas Jefferson left explicit instructions regarding the monument to be erected over his grave. In this undated document, Jefferson supplied a sketch of the shape of the marker, and the epitaph with which he wanted it to be inscribed: "... on the faces of the Obelisk the following inscription, & not a word more: Here was buried Thomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of American Independence of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom & Father of the University of Virginia "because by these," he explained, "as testimonials that I have lived, I wish most to be remembered." I believe he got his wish!
Encouraged by mutual friend Benjamin Rush, they resumed their correspondence in 1811, exchanging roughly 380 rich, philosophical letters that healed their bond. Weirdly, both men died on July 4, 1826. Jefferson died earlier in the day at Monticello, while Adams died hours later in Massachusetts, famously not knowing Jefferson had already passed, uttering his last words: "At least Jefferson still lives."
In an 1816 letter to John Adams, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." While I can somewhat agree with his sentiment, today's immersion in the 'history of the past' is one which was not only thought provoking but thoroughly enjoyable as well. I💛History!
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