A TOUCH OF US HISTORY

May 18, 2006

After 3 days of loving the Blue Ridge Parkway we decided to get off for a bit of education.

We went to visit Thomas Jefferson’s vacation home, Poplar Forest in Bedford County, Virginia. Incorporating ideas from Roman villas, as well as ideas he picked up in Paris, Jefferson personally designed the house and supervised its construction.  The interesting octagonal design has a very large square central room used as a dining room, a sitting room and two bedrooms.  Using high ceilings, very large windows and skylights, Jefferson created a light and airy atmosphere in his home.  He also incorporated indoor toilets.

Jefferson would escape from all of the visitors at Monticello, his primary home, several times a year and rest and recuperate at Poplar Forest.  He only built two bedrooms in his home, one for himself and one for his grandchildren, because he did not receive guests here.  He also designed the gardens and landscaping.

The house was privately owned up until the 1980s and had been remodeled many times to meet the needs of growing families and modern requirements.  It was acquired by a private foundation and now it has been restored to its original design.  Some period furniture and replicas have been added, and the foundation is continually working to bring this historic building back to its original glory.  Archeological digs are being conducted on the grounds to locate and restore the many outbuildings.

After we finished with Poplar Forest we headed for Lexington, Virginia where we visited the home of Stonewall Jackson.  He lived here in this city house for several years while he taught military strategy at the renowned Virginia Military Institute.

The home is very well preserved and furnished with Stonewall’s own furniture.  Also, he was a great gardener, and even though it is a city lot, he had a wonderful flower, herb and vegetable garden.

To finish up our touring day we backtracked to visit Thomas Jefferson’s natural bridge. Jefferson purchased this huge granite arch for $5 back in 1800.  Now it costs three times that to just get admission to the grounds.  But, it is quite interesting and impressive, nonetheless.

Don and I strolled down into the canyon along the gushing creek to see the 300-foot high archway.  We continued the walk along to see the Indian village and a waterfall before calling it a day.

The following day we returned to tour ridgetop road.  As we travel north the terrain and vegetation are changing.  We see more gentle mountains and rolling hills.  The vistas are as broad and beautiful as ever.  Now we are in the Shenandoah National Park.  To the west is the beautiful Shenandoah River and valley.  Often we spot fat little groundhogs scuttling across the road, and an occasional deer or two will look up from the side of the road as we quietly glide by.  This is our last day in the Blue Ridge Mountains and we are savoring it.