Thomas Jefferson dedicated his life to advocating self-governance. He argued that knowledge was power, and that power must be shared among citizens in a democracy. This hall, which Jefferson designed as a private museum, reveals his own pursuit of knowledge. By his retirement from the Presidency in 1809, he had gathered maps, fossils, natural history specimens, busts of Enlightenment thinkers, European paintings, and American Indian art. The collection showcases Jefferson’s belief that human progress is achievable through education. The large two-story, French-style room has a space-saving mezzanine balcony instead of a grand staircase. Triple-sash windows and glass doors provide both ample light and ventilation.