Last one from Monticello

OK, here's the final shots I'll post from Monticello.


Here's a shot of the kitchen, which was actually outside the home and run entirely by slaves. We took the slave tour while we were their -- the only other tour we did along with the home tour.

It was an interesting tour. It's strange to think of that a forward-thinking and enlightened man like Jefferson could have possibly owned slaves especially when he battled for an end to the slave trade and even to abolish slavery in general. Some of his more famous quotes on slavery:

"The rights of human nature [are] deeply wounded by this infamous practice [of slavery]."

"Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people [blacks] are to be free."

"Nobody wishes more ardently to see an abolition, not only of the trade, but of the condition of slavery; and certainly, nobody will be more willing to encounter every sacrifice for that object."

I found it especially interesting that they commented on the whole Sally Hemmings controvery during the tour. The stance of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and their historians and achaeologists, is that it is highly likely the two did have a lasting affair and that Jefferson fathered at least one child by her. It's all been determined through some unusual DNA testing. See more here.


Andy in the beer cellar -- it just seemed appropriate :)


Jefferson's grave in the family cemetery. Descendants are still being buried here today.


Another view of the grave.


A view of the graveyard and some more recent headstones.

This concludes our fun mini-vacation. After Monticello we headed back home and stopped by the kennel where a very happy pup greeted us and had to go back to work in the morning. But it was a nice (and much-needed) getaway!