Following the President’s Footsteps: Thomas Jefferson

At age 16, Jefferson graduated from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.  Shortly afterward, he was admitted to the Virginia Bar. From this point forward, Jefferson’s career turned to politics and patriotism, as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, delegate of the Continental Congress, Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, and the first Secretary of State in President Washington’s Cabinet.

We are highlighting places you can visit to get a better idea of Thomas Jefferson the lawyer, statesmen, husband, father, patriot, diplomat, architect, US Vice President, US President, planter, naturalist, philosopher, and avid chess player.

The Early Years

Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 in the family home on Shadwell plantation in the colony of Virginia.  The house and plantation are no longer there, but there is a sign that reads “Shadwell, Birthplace of Thomas Jefferson.”

Thomas was the third of ten children to Peter Jefferson and Jane Randolph. It is likely that Jefferson learned about farming and surveying from his father as a youth. He attended local private schools in the colony of Virginia before attending college in Williamsburg. In 1752, Thomas inherited approximately 5,000 acres of land upon the death of his father— he was 14 years old.  At age 21, Jefferson took legal control of the property.

Monticello

In 1768, Jefferson began constructing his residence, Monticello, on a hilltop overlooking the plantation. The neoclassic masterpiece would not be completed until 1809; however, Jefferson moved into the South Pavilion in 1770.  Monticello as it appears today was based on architectural plans that Jefferson acquired in Europe.

Today you can visit Jefferson’s Monticello, located outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. The property is managed by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which offers a wide variety of tours, including behind-the-scenes and after-hours options. Plan to spend at least half a day on the property and definitely consider a few tours during your visit. The Slavery at Monticello Tour, which focuses on experiences of the enslaved people who lived and labored on the plantation, has become a popular addition to the tours at Monticello.

Don’t forget to stop by the Monticello graveyard, the final resting place of President Jefferson and many of his descendants. For those interested in learning more about Jefferson’s life, the Richard H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies is also on the property.

Monticello
931 Thomas Jefferson Parkway
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Author of the Declaration of Independence

Leading up to the Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson spent a significant amount of time away from his family as a member of the Continental Congress and the author of the Declaration of Independence.

The best place to get an understanding of Jefferson’s efforts and the historic significance these years had on the formation of United States of America is Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia, PA.  Independence Hall is where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were discussed and adopted. Today, you can take a guided tour of the historic buildings and learn about the challenges, sticking points, and negotiations that took place prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Also, part of Independence Hall National Historic Park is the Declaration (Graff) House, the residence of Thomas Jefferson while drafting the Declaration of Independence. On the second floor, Jefferson wrote his timeless defense of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The original house was demolished in 1883 and reconstructed in 1975. Today, you can visit the museum and learn about Thomas Jefferson and his time in Philadelphia during the American Revolution.

Independence National Historic Park
Visitors Center
6th Street / Market Street
Philadelphia, PA

Declaration (Graff) House
700 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA

Presidential Years  (March 4, 1801 – March 4, 1809)

President Jefferson was sworn in as the Third President of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., actually walking from his boarding house to the Capitol for the ceremony. In 1801, Jefferson held the first inaugural parade, which is now a tradition after the official ceremony. Jefferson lived at the White House for eight years, but sadly his wife Martha Skelton Jefferson never served as First Lady of the country because she passed away in 1782.

White House tours of the East Wing and the Residence are available free of charge and can be scheduled through a congressional representative. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance.

President’s Park (The White House)
Visitors Center
450 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20230

Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

In 1777, Jefferson inherited the 4,819-acre working plantation called Poplar Forest from his father-in-law. The plantation continued to operate with slave labor and generated revenue from tobacco and wheat harvests. In 1806, Jefferson began designing the plantation house as a second residence, which was finally completed in 1816.

Today, the National Historic Landmark is an award-winning historic restoration in progress, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Poplar Forest is a great place to explore and learn about Jefferson’s relationships with both free and enslaved people who were on the property.

Jefferson’s Poplar Forest
1542 Bateman Bridge (GPS)
Forest, VA

University of Virginia

After retiring from public office, Jefferson founded the University of Virginia. He modeled the Rotunda, the centerpiece of the Academical Village, after the Pantheon. Regular historical tours are offered at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, and 2:00 pm every day during the academic year (except home football game days) and leave from the Rotunda’s Lower East Oval Room.

Plan on staying in the Charlottesville area for the evening and visiting the University, downtown, and other historic sites around Charlottesville.

University of Virginia
Charlottesville, VA

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The Jefferson Memorial is part of the Washington DC National Mall and Monuments. Located on the Potomac River, the presidential memorial was completed in 1943 after four years of construction. The bronze statue was added in 1947.  The Jefferson Memorial is managed by the National Park Service and is a great place to visit while walking around the National Mall.

The Jefferson Memorial
16 East Basin Drive, SW
Washington, DC

Other Travels

Thomas Jefferson lived to be over 80 years old and spent most of his life within a few hundred miles of Virginia. Jefferson traveled as far north as Vermont on vacation; south to Norfolk, Virginia; and west to Falling Springs Falls, VA. Besides domestic travel, Jefferson spent time in Europe negotiating treaties and as the second Minister to England.

Check-it-Off Travel has a comprehensive database of places you can visit associated with the US Presidents. Here are a few other places that might interest you as you walk in Thomas Jefferson’s footsteps:

College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, VA), Colonial Williamsburg (Williamsburg, VA), Old Senate Chamber @ US Capitol (Washington DC), Library of Congress (Washington, DC), National Archives and Records Administration (Washington DC), and the Massachusetts Historical Society (Boston, MA).