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Info for RVers... |
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...from a fulltime RVer |
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Charlottesville, VA - Monticello
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September,
2007
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Virginia
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I
decided to spend the two months between my tour of the Blue Ridge
Parkway (coming north in summer and going south in the fall) in
Charlottesville. I figured I'd be able to get legal assistant work
there and it's also close to Shenandoah National Park and the Skyline
Drive which I'd already fallen in love with. I never found temp
work that paid enough to make it worthwhile, so thank God my virtual
assistant lawyers had enough work to keep me busy and in gas money.
The extra free time did give me great chances to explore Charlottesville
and Shenandoah and I really enjoyed my time here.
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Charlottesville's Downtown Mall Visitor's
Center |
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Tip:
Parking on the street isn't the easiest thing to find, so if you
park at the garage, be sure to stop at the Visitor's Center at one
end of the mall and get your ticket stamped for 2 free hours.
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Here's
a shot of part of the great historic downtown area. They've turned
several blocks into a beautiful pedestrian mall where you can shop
in restored buildings, dine al fresco at several outdoor cafes,
catch a movie or special performances in quaint old theaters, and
just basically enjoy some good-ole' people watching.
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At
one end of the mall is this tribute to three of our past presidents
from Virginia - James Madison, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.
You'll see their images on signs along the streets directing you
to historically significant areas.
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Speaking
of presidents, when I asked others about "must-see's"
to visit while I was in Charlottesville, the most consistent answer
I got was "Monticello." Glad I listened to that advice...
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After
a tour of the house interior (sorry, no pics allowed) you can walk
along a path lined with flowers that form a semi-circle around the
West Lawn of the house.
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Typical of the times, the more functional rooms were built away from the main house. Here at Monticello, the "Dependencies" like the kitchen, storage cellars, cook's room, smokehouse, etc. were designed to keep domestic activities out of sight but with easy access via all-weather passageways. |
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I
was impressed that the view from the Garden Pavillion has remained
pristine and undeveloped - this was one of Jefferson's favorite
retreats. He kept an eye on the building of the University of Virginia
from this vantage point.
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After
the guided interior tour, you can walk around the grounds at your
own pace, including a walk down to his gravesite. But you also have
the option for other guided tours, including Mulberry Row, with
remains of shops and cabins where slaves lived and worked. Here
you can get the scoop on the Sally Hemings' descendants' issue.
It was interesting to hear some of the insights into slavery from
the man whose draft of the Declaration of Independence stated that
"all men are created equal." And how even with hundreds
of slaves working Monticello, the plantation was not profitable,
leaving him deeply in debt when he died at the age of 83. The love
of this land was evident from his writing in 1787, "All my
wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello."
His wish fulfilled, he passed here on July 4, 1826 - on the 50th
anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Even
though the property had to be sold at auction then, I'm sure he'd
be happy to see the preservation and restoration efforts in place
today.
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General
RV
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