Don's PhotoJaunt 2003
Poplar Forest

Thomas Jefferson had lots of friends, some of whom would visit Monticello and stay on for days or weeks. He grew tired of all the company, but couldn't bring himself to tell them to buzz off. So he built Poplar Forest, his retreat in what is now suburban Lynchburg, 65 miles or so south of Monticello, so he could get away to himself.

Tom designed his Poplar Forest getaway himself, of course. It is octagonal, with one large room in the middle, with several smaller rooms on the periphery, and a long row of offices on a wing.

Clever design, I guess. It is in the process of being restored, which is taking years.

This is the central room — also octagonal. There are only a few artifacts on display. . .

. . . one of which is one of Tom's pantographs, with which he could make a simultaneous copy of whatever he was writing.

This window looks out on the main office. You can see the care which Tom put into the architectural work he did. Everything he designed looks just right.

This photo and the next two show the row of offices: exterior, down the breezeway, and one of the rooms.

The irregular brick wall is a careful reconstruction of the old wall; all the work being done here is as faithful to the original as possible.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the one, the only, the original, Thomas Jefferson's own BRICK OUTHOUSE! (Actually there are two, one at each end of the main building.)

The two outhouses are identical, both octagonal to match the house, both one-holers, although the other one has a child's seat for young visitors.

Looking out across the grounds on this fine autumn day, we have much the same view Tom had when he stayed here.

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