Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

One of the many great things about living in Washington is the proximity to so much of our nation's history. Last weekend, during unprecedented warm December weather, I took a day trip to Charlottesville, Virginia, home to our third president Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson was a renaissance man and one of his many hobbies was architecture.  He designed his own home, Monticello, over the course of many years and spent his retirement between here and nearby Poplar Forest, his country house he also designed (see my post of Poplar Forest from my visit there in 2009 HERE). 

Jefferson was a man of many extraordinary ideas; one of which was building this classically Palladian structure on top of a country mountain overlooking Charlottesville. Interesting to note that his baby, the University of Virginia, is visible from the house down the mountain. Building here was not practical at the time (and even today). How did one get water to the top of such a tall hill in 1800? Everything had to come up and down the very steep mountain in all sorts of weather; It was worth it for the view! 

One arrives at the north side of the house and into a deep entry porch which features both a clock (the chimes of which could be heard throughout his working farm) and the information from a roof mounted weather vane in the ceiling (seen above).  Notice the clock isn't perfectly centered over the door!

As it is the holiday season simple & natural Christmas decorations are to be found tastefully throughout the house. I loved these wreaths featuring natural decoration; apples, pine cones, dried flowers and the like. 

While a large house it is by no means a mansion; Generations of Jefferson's family lived here in his time and shared 2 privy's found on either side of the house. 

Jefferson's personal accommodations were much more spacious than that of the rest of his family, including this conservatory above off his office.

The iconic rear facade has been featured on the back of the 'Jefferson' nickel since 1938 when it replaced the buffalo nickel. 

As you can see we could not have asked for nicer weather, particularly in mid December: 72 degrees F and sunny!

The rear yard reminds me of his design for the University of Virginia Mall, with dependency buildings linked through walkways covering service spaces. 

This unique sundial below features ears of corn, this is a farm afterall! 

The passageway seen below goes underneath the house to provide access to the lower levels. It also has the advantage of  keeping servants (who were slaves at Jefferson's time) out of the eye-site of the house and to provide protection from the weather.

Underneath the walkways seen at the rear of the house are the other service spaces; kitchens, storerooms, etc; Everything necessary to keep an estate house in running order.

Just below the house are a number of other service buildings including the iconic pavilion with beautiful mountaintop views located on the edge of the mountain top vegetable garden.

Now with electric waterpumps it's much easier to achieve a house with such views but at the time it was a burden!

These western views are stunning at sundown. 

No doors, just large triple hung windows. The bottom 2 sashes move up into the wall to allow access into the room.

 Chairs of the type that were common at Jefferson's time reside in the space.

 Many of the out buildings from Jefferson's time have been torn down or lost over the years but the foundation has plans to restore them all.

You can't beat the classical architecture nor the mountain top views! Be sure to drop in for a tour of Monticello if you are in the mid-Atlantic region. Charming Charlottesville offers great shopping and restaurants as well for a weekend getaway.

Charming Buckhead, Atlanta

While in Atlanta and before my visit to Swan House we took some time on a very rainy day to check out the famous Buckhead neighborhood surrounding the museum.

Buckhead is the uptown section of the city with many large and beautiful homes including Swan House!

Atlanta is surprisingly green (to this northerner!) and most of the homes were beautiful traditional dwellings nestled into this hilly area.

While some people strive for privacy behind walls like the French house 2 above many are situated within rolling lawns.

Don't let the name fool you, there are many neighborhoods within Buckhead and all are not equal! I was shocked at the shear number of these beautiful houses.

 All levels of taste and style but one thing one can't say is that they're not impressive

I had to include this photo here of the most intriguing house. It looked to be art deco or art moderne but was sadly grown over; Hard on architectural tourists like me! We were so tempted to drive up the driveway and check it out!

I kept looking for the Driving Ms. Daisy house but sadly found out it was in another area, Druid Hills. The house above reminded me of it though.

 I was surprised that I didn't see more stucco houses - apparently my vision of the south is skewed!

 Not all of these beautiful houses are old; the structure above is under construction.

 One thing most have in common though are front porches!

This house was a bit smaller than most of its neighbors but had the same beautiful level of detail and a great front porch. What neighborhoods in your city are you fond of? Here in DC we have many but I've spoken many times about Kalorama.