LakeAnna 2017/2018

day trips|charlottesville
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ROY VAN DOORN
Charlottesville
A charming city full of history,
rich culture and one-of-a-kind opportunities
Nestled at the foothills of the
beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains
in picturesque Albemarle
County, the fascinating city of
Charlottesville is a lively university town with
the quintessential mixture of the arts, education
and culture offering visitors a thriving
community that’s abundant in history.
Our nation’s third president, Thomas
Jefferson, inspired the architecture and name
of many of the buildings found throughout
Charlottesville, but his former home,
Monticello, is one of the most iconic. Jefferson
began building Monticello when he was just 26
years old after inheriting land from his father.
The plantation was originally used for the
cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops, but like
other planters, Jefferson started growing wheat
in response to the changing markets. In addition
to its gorgeous architecture and elaborate estate,
Monticello was known for its elaborate gardens
that were designed and tended by Jefferson
himself. Every year he’d grow hundreds of fruit
and vegetable varieties, and although his grape
vines continuously failed to thrive, he developed
the reputation as America’s first viticulturist.
After Jefferson passed away on July 4, 1826,
his daughter, Martha, was forced to sell the
estate, and by 1836, the first Jewish American
Navy Officer, Uriah Levy, and his nephew,
Jefferson Monroe Levy, bought the home. Today,
the Levys are credited for its restoration and
preservation. In 1923, nonprofit organization
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation purchased
the property, and it continues to operate as a
museum and educational institution today.
There are a plethora of ways to become
acquainted with the town of Charlottesville,
whether it be hopping on the free trolley
70 LAKE ANNA GUIDE | 2017/2018