CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. -- Thomas Jefferson is well known for his interest in numerous disciplines. But few of Jefferson's pursuits are as well-preserved as his essay in architecture, Monticello.
In January and February, new tours of Monticello will focus on the architectural designs that influenced Jefferson and how he applied them in the construction of his unique mountaintop home.
Monticello Architecture Tours, to be conducted three times daily, will give visitors the opportunity to view, hear about, and consider the structural and decorative elements that have earned Monticello widespread recognition as one of the icons of American architecture.
The tours, approximately an hour long, will include rooms on the main floor of the house and the third-floor Dome Room, the octagonal chamber Jefferson referred to as his skyroom. These are first tours to the Dome Room that Monticello has ever offered during its regular visitation hours.
Inspired by the Roman Pantheon, the works of 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, and the buildings he saw in Europe while serving there as a diplomat, Jefferson spent 40 years building and remodeling Monticello.
Interpreters will take visitors back to Jefferson's time to explore such topics as why he placed work and storage spaces underground, why he chose certain pediments, and how he employed the art of disguise in the design of his house. Preservation efforts at Monticello also will be discussed.
One of the things said about Monticello is that it is a reflection of Jefferson's mind. To learn about the way Monticello was built is to learn something abut Jefferson's thought process, said Gary Sandling, Monticello's director of interpretation and training.
The tours will begin at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. each day from Jan. 2 through Feb. 29. Each tour will be limited to a maximum of 18 people.
Tickets for Architecture Tours are $25 per person; no discounts apply. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Web site monticello.org or by calling (434) 984-9822. A credit card is required. Same-day tickets will be sold at Monticello's Ticket Office, depending on availability.
Architecture Tours are not recommended for children under age 12. Also, because the third floor of Monticello is accessible only by steep, narrow staircases, that portion of the tour is not handicapped-accessible and is not recommended for individuals who may have difficulty climbing stairs.
