September 26, 2023 ~ Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest is one of only two homes that Thomas Jefferson designed for his personal use. He inherited this Bedford County Plantation from his wife's(Martha) father in 1773(In 1763, John Wayles, Martha's father, left substantial property to her. John and Betty Hemings fathered a child Sally😲) Jefferson basically completed building his retreat in 1812. Octagonal in shape(and the first octagonal house in America), this jewel is now designated as a National Historic Landmark. It has been completely restored, after a fire that destroyed almost the entire structure. My friend, Kaye, and I were greeted by a docent, Jim Wright, who guided us on the house tour. Friendly, knowledgeable, excited to share, a local retired physician, and 'relatively new' in his position, our intuitions told us he LOVED his volunteer job!
The name 'Poplar Forest' predates Jefferson's ownership. An abundance of the stately
Tulip Poplar trees remains today. (Photo below also includes a portion of the carriage turnaround, lending up to the Main House.) The carriage turnaround was made of quartz and red clay mortar.
Note the variation in pattern and stones leading up to the front steps. (The smoother flatter rock was used, allowing for a steady and perhaps safer exit from the carriage).
This entrance is known as the North Portico Entrance.
Below is a map of the site.(Courtesy of pamphlet) The Paper Mulberry Trees, #6, ⬆️, caused me to ponder.
Is there a connection to Mulberry Row at Monticello? And look at #2, ⬆️, known as the 1814 "Wing of Offices".
The similarities to Monticello's South Pavilion Kitchen and Cellar are astounding! His invention of the "terras roof" feature, allowed the flat roof to be useable.
Look at all of those bricks
! 240,000 of them😮!We entered Poplar Forest through the North Portico. One of Jefferson's favorite architectural shapes was the use of
the octagonal design. *Thomas Jefferson spent 14 years in his retirement going back and forth to Poplar Forest. How could he have such an exquisite place and keep it so private? Monticello had become very public, and he wanted seclusion on this 5000 acres retreat. Very few people visited PF.
It was during this time that Thomas Jefferson purchased the nearby famous Natural Bridge (1774) from England.All interior walls at Poplar Forest are 12" thick; the 10 doors are made from Virginia walnut; the dining room includes an octagonal shaped table, a skylight, and the unusual ornamental moulding of ox skulls alternating with the face of Apollo.
Jefferson's Monticello 2-way bed chamber was also used in his design of at Poplar Forest. (bed accessories not included in PF) The furnishings at Poplar Forest are mostly reproductions. A first time visit for me, Poplar Forest was well worth the visit!
September 26, 2023 ~ Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest is one of only two homes that Thomas Jefferson designed for his personal use. He inherited this Bedford County Plantation from his wife's(Martha) father in 1773(In 1763, John Wayles, Martha's father, left substantial property to her. John and Betty Hemings fathered a child Sally😲) Jefferson basically completed building his retreat in 1812. Octagonal in shape(and the first octagonal house in America), this jewel is now designated as a National Historic Landmark. It has been completely restored, after a fire that destroyed almost the entire structure. 
Below is a map of the site.(Courtesy of pamphlet) 
Jefferson's Monticello 2-way bed chamber was also used in his design of at Poplar Forest. (bed accessories not included in PF) 
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