Thomas Jefferson was a pretty amazing guy and I knew this before visiting his home, but it was very apparent during the tour: writer of 19,000 letters; reader extraordinaire (he had a 5-book reading stand on a thing like a lazy-susan); designer of buildings, clocks and other cool stuff (how about a machine that wrote a copy of his letters as he wrote them); writer of the Declaration of Independence; writer of the Constitution; one of the Founding Fathers; and family man. Okay, he had affairs, that's not so great. Oh yeah, and slaves, that's definitely horrible.
Then to lunch with Beth, a woman I went to high school with, and her two girls. That was really fun. After our late lunch we wandered around UVA. Now that's what I call a college campus! I like it when you enter a college campus and can tell: there's an entry, there's only cars on the periphery, and there is a sense of learning, socializing, etc.
Im jealous, always wanted to see his home!
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Miss Rantsy Pants--His home was pretty darn cool and I am not even a US/Colonial history fan (my tendencies lean to modern World HIstory)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in DC this weekend, I checked out his library. Or at least the recreated library - with a lot of books that were originally in his collection. It was really amazing. He read across the spectrum.
ReplyDeleteAths--A lot of his house was about books, which was really cool
ReplyDeleteI agree, Monticello and UVA are both very cool! I got to spend some time there when my husband was there on business a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the rain held off and you were able to have a good time there!
Alyce--I love the grandeur (without being overdone) of the red brick buildings and white columns. We are so used to Spanish style out here in southern California
ReplyDeleteI am so ignorant when it comes to history. I can't believe how amazing Thomas Jefferson was. I might have to seek out a biography.
ReplyDeleteAlso, why am I so close to the DC area (relatively speaking, since I'm on the east side) and I still haven't been to ANY of the presidential monuments or homes?!
Christina--I definitely like World History better, but it is a wonderful experience to go places where something interesting and historic took place. I think we tend to do things farther away and forget about places closer to home.
ReplyDeleteI read The Women Jefferson Loved earlier this year, and it talked a lot about Monticello. It failed to mention the lazy Susan reading stand, though! ;-) I'd love to be able to visit someday.
ReplyDeleteI love Monticello and was particularly impressed by Jefferson's collection of woolly mammoth teeth. Interesting man.
ReplyDeleteJill--Not only a lazy susan reading stand, but a lazy susan closet! It's a pretty incredible place
ReplyDeleteAdrianne--It is definitely cool how the entrance to the house is filled with Lewis and Clark "stuff" and I also liked the calendar/clock he created