History

I am so fortunate to live in a state that is full of history.  Sadly, I do not take advantage of it often enough.  I mentioned before that I teach a high school history class at our home school co op.  Last week, a group went to on a field trip to our capital and Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.

I didn't know before our field trip that Thomas Jefferson designed our state capital building.  He sent the designs to Virginia while he was in France as Ambassador.  He wanted marble columns, but Virginia has no marble.  Those columns are really trees covered in stucco.  And, apparently, the building did not turn out as he expected.  

Thomas Jefferson

Our tour was full of interesting historical facts, and I enjoyed it tremendously.  

 John Smith and Pocohontas  (Not lovers regardless of what Disney says)

 Very dramatic painting of the Battle of Yorktown.  The artist (which I fail to remember) painted all the men with faces of George Washington, while adding his own likeness to one of the men.

 One of the copies of the Declaration of Independence

Old elevator not in use

 George Washington's statue

One interesting fact about this room is the black and white floor.  The black tiles are granite from Vermont.  They show fossils all through them.  Can you guess the creatures?

 Part of our group

We later headed across the street to this beautiful church.  There was some significant detail about this, but I forgot it too.  I was thinking it was where Patrick Henry gave his lively speech, but my friend, Amy, reminded me it was a different church.  Maybe this is where all the governors attended?

An organ player was inside playing magnificently.  I can't imagine working that huge organ.

Next we headed to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home in Charlottesville, Virginia.

 Recognize the picture from the nickel?

I was not allowed to take any inside pictures.  The house was beautiful and quite interesting.  Thomas Jefferson was an extremely intelligent man.  All of this is nothing without a Savior.  He failed to see that truth.