An unexpected bonus on my recent trip to Hot Springs, Virginia, was a visit to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. I didn’t realize this historical World Heritage site was directly off the interstate near Charlottesville. Why not stop?

My husband and I signed up for the 45-minute guided tour of the first floor of this most unusual colonial plantation home. Like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson was a Renaissance man–curious about lots of different subjects. The foyer of Monticello is evidence of his many interests.

Our guide told us Jefferson had a clock in every room, a bit unusual for the times. Here’s the one in the foyer, called the Great Clock, designed by Jefferson, and still functional today.

Where Jefferson retired at night was especially interesting. He designed an alcove bed between his study and bedroom.

About 60% of the furnishings on display in Monticello are original. We were told these boots were actually Jefferson’s.

Monticello is the first colonial home I’ve seen with a skylight. There are 13 total.

Our guide said the dining room’s mustard color is an authentic reproduction. I never thought of this shade of yellow as a colonial color. Bright!

The three portraits hanging in the parlor are of Jefferson, John Adams, and George Washington.

Once the tour was over and we left the house, we walked the grounds and found the Sally Hemings cabin. Sally Hemings, you may recall, was the slave with whom Jefferson had several children. She bargained for their children to be freed, and the four who survived to adulthood were given their liberty.

Today, there are lots of descendants from the Jefferson/Hemings family.

We stood outside the Jefferson gated cemetery, where the largest tomb was of course Jefferson’s. Prior to his death, he left specific instructions concerning the obelisk he wanted over his grave. Surprisingly, the three accomplishments engraved do not include his presidency.

Evidently, he was prouder of writing the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, along with founding the University of Virginia.

I saw this simple marker in the cemetery. Hinton is my maiden name. Maybe I’m related to Thomas Jefferson?

Before I forget, our destination, the Omni Homestead, in Hot Springs, Virginia, was as lovely as people had told me it would be.

We were there for my husband’s business conference–and to spend a couple of days with these sweet granddaughters. A little history in the making here.