Monday, June 28, 2004
The first thing you notice about Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, is that it's smaller than you think it is from looking at the nickel.
Monticello was the first visit on my "colonial-geek's" tour of Charlottesville, VA, last Wednesday. Regardless of its size (a nice-sized house, to be sure, but very -- how can I put this -- anally precise and frugal) it gives you some idea into the mind of the guy who designed it, old TJ himself.
Probably the most interesting thing about Monticello is that the picture you have in your mind and on your nickels is a picture of the BACK YARD.
The trademark dome you know about is barely visible from the front, which is a rather non-distinguishing colonial (DUH) style.
Our tourguide (who looked and sounded a lot like the actor Austin Pendelton) was a veritable encyclopedia of info about TJ and the house, and I found the tour fascinating. Once you take the formal tour, you are allowed to prance about the property as you wish; take pics, roll in the grass (which nobody did that day, as it was raining), visit Tom's grave, and of course BUY TOM'S SOUVENIRS. Which of course, I did.
From there, it was on to stop two of my tour, Michie Tavern, which I'll get to tomorrow.
Monticello was the first visit on my "colonial-geek's" tour of Charlottesville, VA, last Wednesday. Regardless of its size (a nice-sized house, to be sure, but very -- how can I put this -- anally precise and frugal) it gives you some idea into the mind of the guy who designed it, old TJ himself.
Probably the most interesting thing about Monticello is that the picture you have in your mind and on your nickels is a picture of the BACK YARD.
The trademark dome you know about is barely visible from the front, which is a rather non-distinguishing colonial (DUH) style.
Our tourguide (who looked and sounded a lot like the actor Austin Pendelton) was a veritable encyclopedia of info about TJ and the house, and I found the tour fascinating. Once you take the formal tour, you are allowed to prance about the property as you wish; take pics, roll in the grass (which nobody did that day, as it was raining), visit Tom's grave, and of course BUY TOM'S SOUVENIRS. Which of course, I did.
From there, it was on to stop two of my tour, Michie Tavern, which I'll get to tomorrow.
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