Today’s Historic Southern Home is a little more famous than many I’ve shared. Monticello, located just outside Charlottesville, VA, was home to President Thomas Jefferson. The plantation sits in the Southwest Mountains just below the Rivanna Gap, and originally spanned over 5,000 acres. The Neoclassical-Palladian house includes 43 rooms and an octagonal dome above the west front of the building.
Unfortunately, Monticello did not stay in the Jefferson family for long. When Thomas Jefferson died in 1826 (on July 4th!), his daughter inherited the plantation. Due to financial troubles she was forced to sell in 1831. It was privately owned until the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, a non-profit, bought the estate in 1923. Today, the Foundation still owns the property and maintains it as a museum that is open every day of the year except Christmas.
Photos via The Jefferson Monticello & The Monticello Shop blog.
Beautiful post. I love it that the beds were all in alcoves. I think I read somewhere that an enclosed sleeping space is really good feng shui.
Maralyn Woods recently posted…Historic Southern Homes: Monticello