Virginia 2nd time...2014

August 12, 2014

James Monroe

History lesson for today, three presidents lived near or in Charlottesville, VA and were very close friends.  They were: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison & James Monroe, the third, fourth and fifth presidents of the USA.

Two of these gentlemen have homes in Charlottesville; Monroe & Jefferson, Madison lived in Montpelier Station, VA (25 miles away).  We visit the Monroe home first; it’s called Ash Lawn-Highland.  President Monroe only used the home on an occasional basis but was within 2 ½ miles of his close friend, President Jefferson.  The house is 60% furnished with original furnishing, which is always interesting to see.  We learn that President Monroe held more official offices than any other president, also learned that 3 presidents have died on July 4^th: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson & James Monroe.

Monticello

President Jefferson home was next, it’s called Monticello.   What a magnificent home this is!  Thomas Jefferson was a self taught architecture, so it took over 40 years to finalize the house, always building and tearing down something!  You get to see many of the original furnishings, part of his book collection, he had a fascination with clocks (all rooms except one had one) and learn that he wrote over 19,000 papers.   Also you learn that he was married to Martha but she died 10 years after they were married, he never remarried but did have children by one of his slaves, Sally Hemings.  When he died in 1826, he was $107,000 in debt and his grandson had to sell the home, furnishing and the slaves to pay of his debt.   The home was purchased for just over $2,500 by Mr. Uriah Phillips Levy who gave it to his nephew, who sold it to Thomas Jefferson Foundation (for $500,000). 

Michie Tavern

On the trip home, we stopped at Michie Tavern which is just down the road from Monticello.   It dates back to the 1700’s.   Then we went to Carter’s Apple Orchard, where we bought a pound of apples.

August 11, 2014

Stonewall Jackson

While traveling to Charlottesville, VA this morning, we passed Manassas Battlefield, so we stopped for a quick tour.  This was the site of two Civil War battles (Bull Run) in 1861 & 1862.   In the first battle, the Union side was defeated by confederate General T. J. Stonewall and his army, who won his nickname of “Stonewall” because of his leadership.  The second battle was lead by General Lee, who once again defeated the Union army.    There are several preserved houses, barns & churches   The site is huge and you’ll see more guns that we ever saw at any fort!

that you can walk thru and learn how they played a role in the war.

Rotanda at Virginia University

Next we arrived at the Elks lodge in Charlottesville and got set up.  It’s a nice lodge about 2 miles outside of town.  

It’s nice out so we decide to go look around old town, where we learn about Virginia University and how Thomas Jefferson created this university.   We take the free trolley out to see the rotunda that’s filled with his history.   However, it’s under major renovation and was closed.  We do walk thru the chapel and the surrounding grounds but wish we had seen the inside of the rotunda.

Came home and went over to the elks for about an hour.