“I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered at the White House - with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” |
The last time we were at Monticello the boys were little so it is probably at least 25 years. Today, it was 48 degrees and sunny on that glorious mountaintop today. Warm enough to jettison our winter jackets and walk around in our sweatshirts. We even had our mid-morning coffee break sitting in the Sun, at a picnic table chatting with a charming Monticello employee who was originally from Denmark. Like our friend Christel McCarthy, this lovely lady had been a stewardess for Pan American Airways and as a result had traveled extensively. She had many great stories of her travels. Since photography is not allowed inside the house at Monticello, I found these pictures on the web We took the standard house tour. Our guide, a Univ. of Virginia graduate student, was terrific. After hearing about all of Jefferson's interests, I was reminded of John Kennedy’s words at the conclusion of an evening honoring Nobel prize winners: At every turn the objects in Jefferson’s home and the home itself reminds you of the extraordinary breathe Jefferson’s knowledge and talents. Following the house tour we took the guided outdoor tour that focuses on the experiences of the enslaved people of the plantation. The guide called it a “journey through difficult information”. The system of slavery at Monticello (and elsewhere) basically denied the humanity of the enslaved. The man who wrote the words “all men are created equal” owned hundreds of slaves during his lifetime. The story is further complicated by the fact that one of those slaves, Sally Hemings, was the mother of 6 of his children (4 lived to adulthood). After the tours we strolled around the grounds looking at a variety of other exhibits of life at Monticello. Although lacking the beauty of the gardens that you experience in Spring and Summer the views including the “nickel view” of Monticello are spectacular even when the ground is covered with snow.
2 Comments
Wayne Willis
1/19/2019 01:04:03 pm
It is an amazing place, that's for sure, and it was good to see it again. Thanks for the thorough report. And the pix. I remember, when seeing the beds in the cubby-holes and in the spaces between rooms, thinking, "geesh ... what would a man 6'2" (like me) do?"
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Harry Forsdick
1/19/2019 06:18:23 pm
Wayne,
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