Waking up to a gorgeous morning, we drove to Thomas Jefferson's unique home in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Visiting Monticello gives one a glimpse into the Thomas Jefferson, Renaissance man of America: statesman, architect, inventor, scientist, horticulturist...  President Kennedy once said to a group of Nobel Prize winners at the White House, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of human talent (ever) gathered at the White House-with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone." 

Throughout the house, we got to see his clever inventions. Because he wanted to educate his guests, Jefferson displayed his souvenirs from the Lewis and Clark expedition in the entrance hall.  When we were in the family sitting room, where Jefferson's daughter taught her children, I noticed a picture of the Marquis de Lafayette. (His picture is over the desk to the left of the fireplace in the photo in the link.)  Since this was not mentioned by the tour guide, I asked her about it and she was surprised that I knew who he was!  The kids thought that was funny! Throughout the tour my son asked numerous questions, again amazing the tour guide.  On some of them she said she had to do some research.

Jefferson filled his home with many paintings in the parlour, both to educate his family and to remember his very special friends, including the Marquis, George Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Paine and others.  The tea room had Houdon busts of the Marquis de Lafayette, George Washington, John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin.  

The Marquis de Lafayette visited Thomas Jefferson here at Monticello while on his Grand Tour of 1824.  One hundred twenty mounted horsemen accompanied the Marquis up the winding roads to Monticello.  James Madison and others gathered in hushed expectation to witness the historic meeting of two men responsible for our country's freedom.   

The Marquis and Jefferson had interacted a bit during the American Revolution, particularly while Jefferson was governor of Virginia towards the end of the war.  In 1784, Jefferson became Minister to France and Lafayette offered his home and family to Jefferson while Lafayette went to America to visit George Washington at Mount Vernon.  When Lafayette returned to Paris, he and Jefferson visited often. 

Jefferson continued to reside in Paris through the beginning of the French Revolution.  Lafayette, a moderate trying to mediate between King Louis XVI and the revolutionaries, was made commander of the newly formed National Guard.  He led the National Guard to bring down the Bastille on July 14, 1789. 

One of the most special items hanging on the wall of Lafayette's home, was a copy of America's Declaration of Independence.  Lafayette left room for a similar document of France to hang next to it.  Thomas Jefferson helped him to draft such a document.  The Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted by the French National Assembly on August 26, 1789.  My daughter and I studied this document a few weeks ago for her government course.  We compared it to our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.  The similarities between the documents made a fascinating study.  

While Lafayette visited Jefferson during his Grand Tour, one of Jefferson's slaves drove the two friends daily. Israel recalled with fondness and hope the Marquis' frank comments to Jefferson.  Lafayette financed and fought in the American Revolution because he believed that all peoples should have independence.  Lafayette admonished Jefferson that slaves should be educated and freed. 

During the Marquis' visit, Jefferson gave a toast at a banquet held in Lafayette's honor.  "When I was stationed in his country for the purpose of cementing its friendship with ours, and of advancing our mutual interests, this friend of both, was my most poweful auxiliary and advocate.  He made our cause his own, as in truth it was that of his native country also.  His influence and connections there were great.  All doors of all departments were open to him at all times.  In truth, I only held the nail, he drove it."

Influenced by Classical architecture, Jefferson enjoyed designing and building Monticello, often tearing down original ideas to try something new.  "Architecture is my delight, and putting up and pulling down, one of my favorite amusements." 

Founded and designed by Thomas Jefferson in his later years, the University of Virginia opened in 1825. "...this institution of my native state, the hobby of my old age...based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind to explore."  

Today one can still see the university through the trees from the pavillion.

The gardens at Monticello have been reproduced from Jefferson's meticulous gardening journals.  "No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden...,though an old man, I am but a young gardener." (1811)  He enjoyed experimenting with seeds from Europe and from those discovered by Lewis and Clark.  Jefferson felt that "the greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture."  Today the gardening staff package seeds from the heirloom gardens.  I bought several types; we'll see how they make it in Texas!  One can only hope!

Here are pictures from the terraced garden overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The vegetables, orchards and vineyards grew here.

Here are the flowers from the winding walk behind the house. 

Finally, we went to Jefferson's grave,

marked with the epitaph he wrote himself.