Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Categories: Houses in the United States | World Heritage Sites in the United States | Virginia landmarks
Monticello
- This is about the Jefferson residence. For other uses, see Monticello (disambiguation).
Monticello is the estate of Thomas Jefferson located near Charlottesville, Virginia. The house, of Jefferson's own design, is situated on the slope of a small hill (his "monticello") in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap . The entrance front (illustration) gives the impression of a villa of very modest proportions, with a lower floor disguised in the hillside. Work began on Monticello in 1768, and it was occupied in 1770. The original style was based on the classical style of Palladian architecture with which Jefferson became familiar during his studies at The College of William and Mary . Following extended travels in Europe representing the new Republic of the former British American colonies, Jefferson expanded his vision for Monticello to incorporate features of buildings and ruins he admired in his travels. The building of Monticello is considered to have been substantially completed in 1809 with the erection of the dome.
An image of Monticello is featured on the reverse of the 5 cent coin of the United States of America, and on the version of the back side of the two dollar bill that was printed from 1928 to 1966.
Monticello is the only home in the United States of America that has been designated a World Heritage site. This designation also includes the original grounds of the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson. Called the Academical Village by Jefferson, Frank E. Grizzard, Jr., a University of Virginia historian, has written a fine dissertation on the construction of the original buildings at the University of Virginia. Jefferson also had a home near Lynchburg, Virginia called Poplar Forest and designed Virginia's capitol building in Richmond.
The floor of the entry room of Monticello is painted green since Jefferson wanted it to feel as if he were still in the outdoors when he walked in the door.
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