James Monroe's First Farm

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McCormick Road . Charlottesville

"In 1788 James Monroe purchased an 800-acre farm here to be close to his friend Thomas Jefferson and to establish a law office. In 1799 the Monroes moved to their new Highland plantation adjacent to Monticello and sold the first farm. in 1817 the Board of Visitors of Central College purchased 43 3/4 acres of Monroe’s old farm, for the Lawn and the Ranges of the “academical village” that Jefferson was planning to build with private contributions. On 6 Oct. President Monroe, with former presidents Jefferson and Madison, laid the cornerstone for its first building, Pavilion VII. On 25 Jan, 1879, Central College was charged by the General Assembly as the University of Virginia."

Linking with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

University of Virginia & The Rotunda

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I have been trying to talk Nick into taking me to see the Rotunda ever since we moved here....FINALLY I get to see it....

And then this happens....

That's right...reconstruction...just my luck...sigh

It's like it's in jail....

Oh well, will just have to make do with a picture of the picture of the Rotunda...

So anyways, The Rotunda was designed by Thomas Jefferson to represent the "authority of nature and power of reason" and was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Construction began in 1822 and was completed in 1826, after his death. The grounds of the new university were unique in that they surrounded a library housed in the Rotunda rather than a church, as was common at other universities in the English-speaking world. The Rotunda is seen as a lasting symbol of Jefferson's belief in the separation of church and education, as well as his lifelong dedication to both education and architecture. (taken from Wikipedia)

So long UVA...we'll be back in 2016 when all this reconstruction will be finished...supposedly...you know how that goes!

Linking with Our World Tuesday

UVA Chapel

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Built in 1889, the chapel no longer holds regular services but they do hold memorial services and it can be rented for weddings.

In 1957 the secret group Seven Society donated the carillon.