Pictures of my trip to Monticello and perhaps something unknown to most, me included before the trip

keets

OK, we took a short vacation starting last Friday morning, made it out of Northeast Ohio just as the deluge was ending, 10-12 inches of rain in about 30 hours!!! We drove down to Williamsburg, Virginia where we stayed for three days and made a short trip to Va. Beach where the heat was almost intolerable. After Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday and Busch Gardens on Monday, it was time to head home and stay overnight in Charlottesville where Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello, is located. What a historic sight and what a man!!!!!

I can't truly express how I was overwhelmed as we drove up the mountain and eventually boarded the tour bus for the short ride to the house. For me, it had nothing to do with coins and everything to do with our Heritage and how one man chose to serve, making it his life's work to pass down a legacy of Public Service. A spritual thought which comes to mind is very fitting-----A man will know he's made progress when he can plant a tree he knows he'll never see grow to maturity. And what a tree Jefferson helped to plant!!!

Sadly, the Society which now oversees the sight allows no photographs inside Monticello. The foyer contained every type of artifact imaginable, offering a quick glimpse of what Mssrs. Lewis and Clark brought back from the Jefferson sponsored Expedition of the then new Louisiana Territory. A room to the left contained what remains of his Library which is really an understatement. Thomas Jefferson came across through the whole tour as a man who sincerely believed our time is short and should be used to further the Human Race. He read prolifically, kept metioculous records of everything, worked tirelessly and always sought to improve on the seemingly unimprovable. His main work/study area was a two room assemblage with a bed placed in the walls between the rooms, a desk in one containing a book stand which allowed him to have five books opened for reading at any given time. Our guide quoted him as saying "In 50 years the sun has never caught me in bed." I wish I could say the same.

From the commentary we received during the tour, Mr. Jefferson was well visited and it struck me that I was standing on hallowed ground, rooms where every manner of Royalty and Nobility as well as unnumbered Great Americans had stood and walked during their visits. It also struck me that I unknowingly share some of his passions and appreciation of solitude for introspection. The gardens surrounding the home are a treasure in themselves; I only wish I could view them all at their peak during the seasons. As it was, our short five hour stay was way, way inadequate. All the same, I thought I'd share a quick impression of genuis as I had the oppurtunity to observe in it's long past shadow.

So now, on to the good stuff and a few pictures along with perhaps a revelation about the design we see of the building on our Nickels.

Firstly, let's look at what we see on the Jefferson Nickel. The building is depicted with four pillars and six steps, we all know that, right?? But is that really what the building looks like?? Also, have you ever wondered what part of Monticello you were looking at?? I always assumed I was being shown the front of the building, but again, is that what we're seeing??

So here's the image as seen on the coin. Note that thre are four distinct pillars and six distinct steps.



Now, here's what we see if we look at the front of the building. Note that there are six steps and four pillars but that the steps curve at the ends and have nothing at the end extending from under the Portico. It's definitely not the view we see on the coin.



OK, let's take a look at the back of the building. This is definitely the view on the coin except that the steps are wrong, there are seven instead of six!!! Also, it's almost impossible to not see the two extra pillars.



I was sort of surprised to notice these little nuances because other members had posted about the Monticello before but nobody had apparently paid attention to the detail as a true step counter would. I was most surprised by the fact that in all the depictions the front of the building is never shown. We always see the rear and the three-quarter side views. But, I digress.

Here's a family picture of the whole sweaty group. Shortly after this was taken we took a slow walk down the hill and stopped at Jefferson's gravesite. As an interesting sidenote, Thomas Jefferson had taken a childhood pledge with a friend that they would both be buried under a large Oak Tree. Though the tree is long gone, the pledge remains and the men lie close together for eternity.

MadMarty

Wow, the building has Full Steps!!!

Nice pics Keets!!

jmj3esq

Very interesting. Thanks.

DickyBetz

Cool post.

keets

actually, the primary photographer is our little protege, Alex, seated in front of me in the family picture. she's Casey's oldest daughter at 13 and has ease with almost whatever she chooses to do. i haven't yet been able to pursuade her to accompany me to a coin show. if she were bitten by the bug, well, who knows what might happen..............

mgoodm3

Monticello looks so small in the first picture, maybe you're just tall.

coinandcurrency242

I remember when I visited! I would of loved to take a 200 year old tree home from their and sell it

TWQG

Thanks for sharing.

19Lyds

Thanks Keets! What a wonderful post!

cladking

I believe this building has been extensively renovated a couple of times. The color
of the brick on the sides of the steps in back do not seem to match the rest of the
structure. It seems highly unlikely that the original would have differed in the treat-
ment of the ens of the steps. I'd guess the artist (Felix Schlag) exercised a little art-
istic licence and did most of his study from the back.

Truly an MS-70 FS thread.

DMWJR

With that chip on the fourth step, I bet it wouldn 't get the designation!

Tootawl

<< <i>Monticello looks so small in the first picture, maybe you're just tall. >>


I know tawl sir, and he is not tawl!

xbob

Great post and neat observations of the real deal vs. the coin.

The original winning design is the back as well:


Now if we can only figure out who the drag queen is on the front of the 2006 nickels.

HTubbs

POTD

relayer

Cool. It looks like the coin is a composite of both the front and back

BTW - who is the guy who stole your car in your icon?

Leiana

How very interesting! Thanks so much for sharing.

-Amanda

TomB

This is a terrific thread! My wife and I last visited Monticello in 1994, and at that time they would not allow anyone on the second floor because the staircase was too narrow for the firecode. It is my understanding that this building had heavy restoration, as cladking has already mentioned, and that it was not taken care of very well for a very long time. When we visited, there was a Chain cent on display that had been found near the slaves' quarters and the cent had been cleaned and superglued to a display table.

Pistareen

Hey! My old office!

I worked at Monticello as an historical interpreter while studying at UVa's history department between 1996 and 1999. My work there began as a "Plantation Life Interpreter," teaching crowds about life as a slave on Jefferson's plantation, but later I got to put on a shirt and tie and give tours in the house. Among the fun by-products were getting to spend time upstairs (including the off-limits Dome Room) and getting to help them catalogue Jefferson's medal collection. His gilt 1805 Eccleston medal (given to him by Eccleston) is framed and on display in a vitrine in the parlor.

My years there were fantastic -- I loved the house, the area, my bosses at TJMF, and the interaction with the public. There is no better place to show up for work in the morning!

ziggy29

<< <i>My years there were fantastic -- I loved the house, the area, my bosses at TJMF, and the interaction with the public. There is no better place to show up for work in the morning! >>

That's quite a statement coming from someone who works for ANR...

Longacre

Great post. I have to get there someday!

DNADave

Great Post! I've been there too but last time I was focused on the books and on the surrounding botany. Next time I'll take an early half or two in my pocket. Love the history.

keets

the second floor is still off limits for the same narrow width/firecode reason, though i suspect it has more to do with ongoing preservation. the Monticello did in fact fall into a brief period of disrepair, i think that was from about 1836 till the mid-1870's. it was originally donated to the U.S.(who didn't want it) and subsequently purchased by one of the Jefferson heirs who then donated it to the U.S., this time a willing recipient. the organization currently overseeing things has been the caretaker since about 1923.

there was some extensive renovation going on while we were there to the North wing which extends about 100 feet back from that end of the building. the gardens were in bloom for the season but seemed to be struggling some with the heat as were all the visitors. all the same it was easy to imagine the estate as a bustling plantation in the early 1800's with it's attendant slave population, a sore point with many whenever Jefferson is mentioned. my perception is that he was a victim of the times and struggled with it as best he could. our guide put things in perspective when she paralleled our dependence on oil/chemicals with the 1800's plantation. many of us understand the harm we do in our day to day lives but are unwilling to make the sacrifice necessary to live the lifestyle we've grown accustomed to, so we trudge on as best as possible under the burden.

to that end some of the slave cabin foundations have been unearthed as well as the workshops and storehouses. i imagine the future holds some reconstruction, but not soon.

RBB617

Great post, keets. This post really ties the history into the coin.

Crackout

Great stuff! Thanks, keets

ibzman350

Hey Keets.......you were in my neckada wood. Great pics, thanx for sharing.

BTW it was not hot 2 days ago but today it was. My car thermometer read 104 today, it was only up to 99 this past weekend...



Herb

MrSpud

Cool post!

Louis

Very well written.

Whizzard

Way cool. When living in DC I never got down there. Time to take the kids now!

Thanks

farthing

I looked up the Eccleston medal - What a beauty!





Daniel Eccleston also has a Conder token with his image, which happens to be one of my favorites in my collection. That is his image in the middle of the top row in my sig line.

pontiacinf

incredibly well written al, POTD

I visted monticello when I was real young, dont remember much. I do however have goosebumps from your description, as its how I felt when I visted Mount Vernon a few years later.

did ya wanna break out a MD while there?

lawn guy would probably pop a doodie

great job Al

Barry

I was there for the first time about a month ago. I was surprised to see that the back view is the famous one. I never even thought of comparing the real thing to a modern crap nickel

We had a great tour inside and I learned Jefferson was an amzingly brilliant guy in many fields, similar to Ben Franklin...

cladking

<< <i>I was there for the first time about a month ago. I was surprised to see that the back view is the famous one. I never even thought of comparing the real thing to a modern crap nickel

We had a great tour inside and I learned Jefferson was an amzingly brilliant guy in many fields, similar to Ben Franklin... >>



It was largely Jefferson, and Adams, who provided the philosophical foundations of the republic,
while Franklin was much more an all around scientist, printer, ambassador. All the founders were
very pragmatic and very far sighted. They'd have probably collected our modern crap were it avail-
able to them.

Washington often doesn't get the credit he deserves, but he was instrumental as a military stra-
tegist at the very least.

clevegreg

EXCELLENT Post Al!!!!

arlea1957

another self indulgence thread

JRocco

Great thread and great read keets
I enjoyed the read and that family pic is a great one

But you said they don't make Jeffs with 7 full steps

anoldgoat

Great post keets.

Myqqy

Very nice post, but am I the only one who noticed that keets has a full-on mullet?

keets

arlea1957, what am i supposed to write about, stuff that you like?? that would be stupid and i might end up being totally wrong with any conclusions i might draw.

oh yeah, i've had the mullet goin' on since about 1980. i'm a victim of the Orlando butcher who gave me the buzz-cut in 1975; my hair follicles still haven't recovered.

DHeath

Good post Al. It's always nice to see collectors venture outside.

messydesk

<< <i>Now if we can only figure out who the drag queen is on the front of the 2006 nickels. >>


Alice Cooper.

solid

Very nice post, Al - thanks for sharing it all here!

Ken

beartracks42

Great post Al. Bev and I came through Charlottesville a few yrs. ago and did not take in Monticello. Looks like we missed a great opportunity.

KentuckyJ

Great pics Very nice post, keets Well written and informative ... thanks!

KJ

Julio

Keets; if that's not quality family time I don't know what it is. jws

Coin Finder

Thanks Man, I needed something good.

Great Post and worth the read

Tarmac

They need a new gardner. That lawn looks awful!!!!

clackamas

great post thanks

GAT

My wife flew from San Diego to outside Richmond to visit our son in May and spent a month there. During that time our yougest daughter and son-in-law, who live in Jacksonville, Fl drove up and took her to Monticello and Williamsburg. She wasn't impressed with Williamsburg but liked Monticello. A lot of people don't realize that the Jefferson family sold the homestead after Thomas's death as he was deep in debt and the property was out of his decendents hands for many years. Also she said they counldn't help telling the story of Sally Henning but without any proof.

Hoot

Hi Al - The West portico (back porch) of Monticello was excavated in 1999, revealing the full extent of the original steps. It is likely that Schlag saw the porch as having six steps. Here's a link to the report on the archaeology of the West Portico: West Portico Archaeology You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download the file and display it in your browser.

Great report! Thanks for the story and the pics!

Hoot

lordmarcovan

Cool travelogue!

Man, I wish I could go detecting in TJ's yard... d'you think they'd notice? I'd fill all the holes back in!

MAD4MORGANS

Great Post!!



From Hoot's Archaeological link:

"The West Portico was one of the last areas known to be under construction,
and this archaeoligical research points to the fact that the steps were never
in his lifetime finished in the form that Jefferson intended."

Sounds like projects around my house...