February, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



65 



spread out on three sides is 

 probably unequaled any- 

 where in the United States. 

 It extends over the undulat- 

 ing country in a mighty 

 sweep to the Blue Ridge 

 Mountains half a hundred 

 miles away and presents a 

 vista of that picturesque 

 range for a distance of more 

 than one hundred and fifty 

 miles. 



The little mountain on 

 the apex of which Jefferson 

 placed his residence is five 

 hundred and eighty feet 

 high, and has the form of a 

 cone. It slopes eastward 

 one and one-half miles to 

 the Rivanna River. Jef- 

 ferson's birthplace is in 

 sight of the portico of Mon- 

 ticello, and seemingly 

 almost below is the Uni- 

 versity of Virginia, which 

 he founded. President 

 Monroe lived eight miles 

 down the valley, and the 

 home of President Madison 

 was but a few miles north. 

 From the cupola of his man- 

 sion the Sage of Monticello 



A Nearer View of the Portico 



could gaze upon twelve of 

 the richest counties in Vir- 

 ginia. 



The mansion designed by 

 Jefferson and erected under 

 his personal supervision has 

 the plan of a gigantic letter 

 E, the wings opening west- 

 ward. To the north and 

 south are walks or prome- 

 nades supported by masonry 

 structures containing ser- 

 vants' quarters and storage- 

 rooms. Masonry-wings of 

 exactly this same character 

 were provided for in the 

 original plans for the White 

 House at Washington in the 

 shaping of which Jefferson 

 had a hand, and it is these 

 wings or terraces which 

 were restored during the 

 recent reconstruction of the 

 Presidential Mansion. 



On the edge of the lawn 

 before the house at Monti- 

 cello, and at the supreme 

 point of vantage for the 

 splendid semi-circular pano- 

 rama, stands the little build- 

 ing used by Jefferson as a 

 study. This is connected 



The Slaves' Quarters and Jefferson's Office Building 



