More on Thomas Jefferson and Monticello
Earlier on, I wrote about my visit to Monticello. I would like to share a few more photos and thoughts from the memorable day in July last year at his home where Jefferson spent 40 years on building his home. Like George Washington, he longed back to his home while serving in Washington, D.C.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Founders knew that slavery was wrong but couldn’t solve the problem at the time of creating the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution.
Slavery
Thomas Jefferson had inherited his slaves from his father in law. From the official guide book about Monticello, it says that he treated them well and seldom punished except for stealing or fighting. Years after the death of his beloved wife Martha, it is believed through genetic studies that he is the father of Sally Hemmings’ six children. Sally belonged to an enslaved family Hemmings who worked at Monticello for five generations. Ten members of that family gained their freedom in Jefferson’s lifetime or in his will.
Farming
Jefferson had 5000 acres of agriculture. Monticello was his home farm, and he had three other farms o the east and north of Monticello. Tobacco was the main crop until Jefferson retired as Secretary of State in 1794. He switched to wheat and rye as the tobacco crop damaged the soil and caused exhaustion on the labourers. The same year he began a new system of crop rotation for the restoration of its fertility.
The flour was packed in barrels and shipped down the Rivanna River to Richmond. Unfortunately, his farms seldom made a profit. (Inspired from the Official Guide to Thomas Jefferson’s World).

Jefferson loved to ride on horseback attending to his farm
Mulberry Row
The name Mulberry Row comes from the alley of trees planted along the road. Slaves and freemen worked and lived here as weavers, spinners carpenters, Sawyers, blacksmiths, tinsmiths or domestic servants. Skilled workers here helped him build his house; everything was made here.
The Revolutionary Garden
No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, & no culture comparable to that of a garden -Thomas Jefferson
Jefferson grew many new species of fruit and vegetables that were new to American gardens. He arranged them in colours together with ornamental flowers and cherry trees.
Thomas Jefferson corresponded with botanists from around the world on collecting plants and seeds. Today this work is continued by the Thomas Jefferson’s Center for Historic Plants.
Winding Walk
In 1808 Jefferson wrote to his granddaughter Ann Cary Randolph that:
I have resumed an idea… of a winding walk… with a narrow border of flowers on each side
The museum shop
The shop at Monticelli is like at many museums, a small museum in itself with a reflection of what you can see and learn from the visit. Indeed a remarkable place where you somehow feel Thomas Jefferson’s presence.
Categories: History, Thomas Jefferson, Travelling, USA
Wow looks like a lovely historical visit Maria! 🙂 Great post 🙂
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Thank you, dear Michelle Marie. I am in love with these historical places and your Founding Fathers
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Great post once again, Maria. What knowledge you have of our history, it is really commendable.
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I am reading a biography on George Washington (a difficult but interesting one) and I took a course on Thomas Jefferson. I would love to read more about the other Founders too. When you visit the museums on the historical sites it’s all overwhelming with the amount of info so I would love to return to Monticello and Washington’s Mount Vernon to see it all again
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Sounds like a great plan!!
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Looks like an amazing visit – I would love to check that out sometime! 🙂
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It was such a peaceful and beautiful place. Thank you for your kind comments M.B
Henry
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