Poplar Forest
Encyclopedia
Poplar Forest was Thomas Jefferson
's plantation
and plantation house in what is now Forest, Virginia
, near Lynchburg
. He designed it and treated it as a private retreat, working on it from 1806 until his death 20 years later. "It is the most valuable of my possessions," Jefferson once wrote a correspondent. Although he had intended it for his youngest daughter Mary Jefferson Eppes and her family, she died at age 26. He entrusted it to her only surviving son Francis W. Eppes
.
Known as the architect
of such buildings as Monticello
, the University of Virginia
, and the Virginia State Capitol
, Jefferson built the more remote and lesser-known Poplar Forest as a place to escape the hordes of visitors at Monticello and seek the "solitude of a hermit." It was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1970. It is operated as an historic house museum.
. He supervised the laying of the foundations for a new octagonal house in 1806, while still President of the United States
. The octagon house
, built in accordance with Palladian
principles, includes a central cube room, 20 feet (6.1 m) on a side, portico
s to the north and south, and a service wing to the east.
Jefferson bequeathed Poplar Forest to his grandson Francis W. Eppes
upon his marriage. Eppes and his bride lived there only a short time and sold the plantation in 1828 before moving to Florida
.
Since 1986, the house has been undergoing several phases of restoration to return it to the state it was in when Jefferson lived there. Over 600 acres (242.8 ha) of the original plantation has been purchased to provide a landscape easement for the house. The property was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1971. Poplar Forest was featured in Bob Vila
's A&E Network
production, Guide to Historic Homes of America (1996), during its complete restoration.
Archaeological studies, under way for more than 20 years, have been used as the basis to restore the ornamental landscape and architecture of the house. Based on this work, the service wing, which was demolished in 1840, is being reconstructed. Archaeological studies have also been made to reveal the artifacts of Poplar Forest's enslaved
African-American community, as well as the broader agricultural landscape that characterized the property from the mid 18th-century through the American Civil War
.
Operated as a historic house museum, Poplar Forest is open to the public for tours from March 15 through December 15. The Hands-on History Center provides on-site programs for school groups in grades 2 and up.It is located at 1548 Bateman Bridge Road in Forest, Virginia
.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
and plantation house in what is now Forest, Virginia
Forest, Virginia
Forest is a census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Forest is located at ....
, near Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. He designed it and treated it as a private retreat, working on it from 1806 until his death 20 years later. "It is the most valuable of my possessions," Jefferson once wrote a correspondent. Although he had intended it for his youngest daughter Mary Jefferson Eppes and her family, she died at age 26. He entrusted it to her only surviving son Francis W. Eppes
Francis W. Eppes
Francis Wayles Eppes VII was the grandson of President Thomas Jefferson. After moving from Virginia with his family to near Tallahassee, Florida in 1829, he established a cotton plantation. In 1856 Eppes donated land and money to gain the location in Tallahassee of one of the first two...
.
Known as the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
of such buildings as Monticello
Monticello
Monticello is a National Historic Landmark just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is...
, the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, and the Virginia State Capitol
Virginia State Capitol
The Virginia State Capitol is the seat of state government in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in Richmond, the third capital of Virginia. It houses the oldest legislative body in the United States, the Virginia General Assembly...
, Jefferson built the more remote and lesser-known Poplar Forest as a place to escape the hordes of visitors at Monticello and seek the "solitude of a hermit." It was designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1970. It is operated as an historic house museum.
History
In 1773 Jefferson inherited the estate of 4800 acres (1,942.5 ha) from his father-in-law, John WaylesJohn Wayles
John Wayles was a planter, slave trader and lawyer in the Virginia Colony. He is historically best known as the father-in-law of Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States....
. He supervised the laying of the foundations for a new octagonal house in 1806, while still President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. The octagon house
Octagon house
Octagon houses were a unique house style briefly popular in the 1850s in the United States and Canada. They are characterised by an octagonal plan, and often feature a flat roof and a veranda all round...
, built in accordance with Palladian
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
principles, includes a central cube room, 20 feet (6.1 m) on a side, portico
Portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls...
s to the north and south, and a service wing to the east.
Jefferson bequeathed Poplar Forest to his grandson Francis W. Eppes
Francis W. Eppes
Francis Wayles Eppes VII was the grandson of President Thomas Jefferson. After moving from Virginia with his family to near Tallahassee, Florida in 1829, he established a cotton plantation. In 1856 Eppes donated land and money to gain the location in Tallahassee of one of the first two...
upon his marriage. Eppes and his bride lived there only a short time and sold the plantation in 1828 before moving to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Preservation
The house underwent many alterations by different owners over the years, and the plantation's area was incrementally reduced to just 50 acres (20.2 ha). The house is in part now surrounded by suburban subdivisions.Since 1986, the house has been undergoing several phases of restoration to return it to the state it was in when Jefferson lived there. Over 600 acres (242.8 ha) of the original plantation has been purchased to provide a landscape easement for the house. The property was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1971. Poplar Forest was featured in Bob Vila
Bob Vila
Robert Joseph "Bob" Vila is an American home improvement television show host known for This Old House , Bob Vila's Home Again , and Bob Vila .-Early life:...
's A&E Network
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
production, Guide to Historic Homes of America (1996), during its complete restoration.
Archaeological studies, under way for more than 20 years, have been used as the basis to restore the ornamental landscape and architecture of the house. Based on this work, the service wing, which was demolished in 1840, is being reconstructed. Archaeological studies have also been made to reveal the artifacts of Poplar Forest's enslaved
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
African-American community, as well as the broader agricultural landscape that characterized the property from the mid 18th-century through the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Operated as a historic house museum, Poplar Forest is open to the public for tours from March 15 through December 15. The Hands-on History Center provides on-site programs for school groups in grades 2 and up.It is located at 1548 Bateman Bridge Road in Forest, Virginia
Forest, Virginia
Forest is a census-designated place in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,006 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Forest is located at ....
.
External links
- "Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest", website of the Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest
- Thomas Jefferson's architecture, University of Virginia