CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, Day 2.  Visited nearby Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.  I had visited here over 30 years ago with my mother and aunt, and the changes since then are dramatic and good.  One no longer drives up to the top of the mountain to park next to the house.  Now there is a new visitor's center, museum, theater, gallery, gift shop, cafe, and several parking lots part of the way up the mountain.  Shuttles take you up from there to the top, or you can walk the woodsy grounds.

Another improvement is that the upper floors of the house have mostly been vacated and refurbished to appear as they did in Jefferson's time.  30 years ago staff occupied the upper floors with offices, so one got a tour only of the bottom floor.  Only downside is that no photos are allowed inside, except at the very end when photos are allowed inside the dome room at the top.  At the far side of the Dome Room are two brown doors, seemingly dropping off outdoors, but they lead to a small surprise room (see photo below).

You actually get to climb the very narrow staircases.  Only wish I could show you photos of all the rooms.  Biggest surprise is how small the rooms are.  There are many rooms but small, and most in the shape of an octagon, a shape Jefferson thought was very practical.  This results in some strange doorways with doors that do not open completely.

One surprise was that they have repainted the fence work along the upper floor walkway outside the house.  It had for years been white, matching the trim on the house.  One even sees this in the Ken Burns production about Jefferson.  Now it is a green color, that does not look right to anyone you ask, but research turned up evidence that this color paint had been purchased for painting that fencing.  Continued research is leading to further changes, including in the interior of the house.  Unlike over 30 years ago, there is no run-down look anywhere.  Everything is well cared for, thanks to a recent large grant from a private firm.

New Visitor's Center Complex

Monticello Front Entrance

Dome Room View

We Were Allowed To Photograph Inside the Dome Room

Behind the Far Double Doors

View Out One Dome Room Window

View Out Another Dome Room Window

Re-painted Green Fence Work

Jefferson's Experimental Gardens and Observation Building

Interior of Observation Building

Jefferson Family Graveyard

Thomas Jefferson Tombstone

Enlarged Inscription
Above: Three Things for Which He Wished to be Remembered
Below:  Birth and Death Dates

Betty with Mr Jefferson