July 1,2010 Monticello

We arrived at Lynchburg Thousand Trails yesterday and will be staying here till after the 4th. Today our trip took us to Monticello,home of Thomas Jefferson. Since this being the 4th of July weekend it was a good time to visit Jefferson's home. He was the author of our Declaration of Independence and the 3rd President. In 1768 Jefferson began leveling his mountain top for his home and thus began a 40 year period of design,constuction,and remodeling. In 1796 he began to transform Monticello into 3 stories and added the dome.Monticello was home to about 150 slaves who worked on the plantation doing various jobs. He was interested in gardening and had planted vegetables,trees,and raised tobacco. Wine Cellar

Kitchen Jefferson is buried on the grounds with other members of the family and is still used today by his descendants. Jefferson died July 4,1826 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This will be a 4th of July to remember. After leaving Monticello we went down the road to Michie's Tavern.

Michie Tavern was established in1784 and served as a social center where traveler's could get food,drinks and lodging.Today you can have a mid-day fare buffet and tour the tavern. I wouldn't recommend eating there as it isn't great and is expensive for what you get. $40.00. Tour is extra.
Tomorrow we're off to Appomattox.