Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, United States

Poplar Forest is one of only two homes Thomas Jefferson designed for his personal use, his Poplar Forest retreat was the place where Jefferson “came to indulge in the life of the mind and renew his personal creativity” Designated a National Historic Landmark, and nearly lost to development, the Poplar Forest plantation was rescued in 1984 Today, the neoclassical architecture of the octagonal house has been returned to Mr Jefferson’s design A visit to Poplar Forest offers a unique opportunity to observe a “live” archaeological dig and historic restoration in progress, as efforts to reveal and restore Thomas Jefferson’s vision for his personal retreat continue

Poplar Forest is a plantation and plantation house in Forest, Bedford County, Virginia Thomas Jefferson designed the plantation and used the property as a private retreat and a revenue-generating plantation Jefferson inherited the property in 1773 and began designing and working on the plantation in 1806 While Jefferson is the most famous individual associated with the property, it had several owners before being purchased for restoration, preservation, and exhibition in 1984

Slaves were present on the property from the time prior to when Jefferson inherited the plantation through when the United States officially abolished the institution in 1865; recent archaeological excavations at Poplar Forest have provided insights into both the role of slave labor as well as the slave community on the property

Poplar Forest was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1971, and is presently operated as a historic house museum and working by the nonprofit Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest The Corporation is also responsible for the ongoing archaeological study and restoration work at the property

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The land upon which Poplar Forest was built shows archaeological evidence of having been populated by native peoples from the Paleo-Indian through Late Woodland periods The 4,000 acre property was legally defined by a 1745 patent in which William Stith (a colonial minister and planter) assumed ownership, but did not live on the land He passed ownership to his daughter Elizabeth Pasteur and her cousin Peter Randolph, who maintained ownership until 1764 John Wayles purchased the original property in 1764 and slowly added an additional 819 acres prior to 1770; he was the first to use slave labor on the property Similar to Stith, Wayles did not live on the property due to his career as an attorney and businessman in Charles City County, VA
Wayles’ daughter Martha Wayles Skelton was married to Thomas Jefferson, and the couple inherited the full 4,819 acres when Wayles passed away in 1773 The Jeffersons did not immediately continue developing Poplar Forest, nor were they frequent visitors to the property – their focus was on developing Monticello, Thomas’s political and legal career, and raising their family

Near the end of his life, Jefferson sought to find permanent residents for the property, and his grandson Francis W Eppes and wife Mary Elizabeth moved to Poplar Forest shortly after their 1823 marriage Jefferon passed away in 1826, and made his last visit to Poplar Forest in 1823 The Eppses sold Poplar Forest in November 1828 to William Cobbs; Cobbs assigned the task of managing the property to his son in law Edward Hutter in 1840 following his marriage to Cobb’s daughter Emma

Poplar Forest is open daily from March 15 through December 30 (closed on Easter, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM (last tour leaving at 4:00 PM) and Winter Weekends starting January 21 through March 12 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM (last tour leaving at 3:00 PM) For more information, visit poplarforestorg or call 4345251806

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