Poplar Forest - Forest, Virginia
N 37° 20.838 W 079° 15.966
17S E 653577 N 4134810
Poplar Forest was designed and built by President Thomas Jefferson. It served as his private retreat, situated away from Monticello, and the public demand for his time.
Waymark Code: WM232F
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 08/27/2007
Views: 16
Poplar Forest was once a plantation of 4,000 acres, that was owned by Thomas Jefferson. In order to manage the plantation Jefferson would come to Poplar Forest and stay in a two-room cottage, which was the only dwelling on the property. In 1781, Mr. Jefferson was being pursued by the British and sought refuge at Poplar Forest where he remained for several weeks.
In 1806 Mr. Jefferson designed and began building the existing octagonal brick house that was completed in 1809. After the building was completed Mr. Jefferson would visit only occasionally before and during his Presidency. After leaving office, President Jefferson retired to Monticello, where he would receive countless visitors. When these visitors became too numerous, President Jefferson would seek refuge at Poplar Forest, often spending two months at a time.
In 1823, President Jefferson’s grandson, Francis Eppes and his wife Elizabeth took up residence at Poplar Forest and managed the plantation. It was during the summer of 1823 that President Jefferson visited Poplar Forest for the final time, electing to spend his remaining years at Monticello.
On July 4, 1826, President Jefferson died at Monticello, on this same day President John Adams also died in Massachusetts. Following President Jefferson’s death Francis Eppes inherits Poplar Forest and it’s remaining 1,074 acres. Two years later, Eppes sells the property to William Cobbs. Shortly after moving to Poplar Forest, Mr. Cobbs daughter, Emily marries Edward S. Hutter and the property remained in the Cobb-Hutter family for the next 120-years.
In 1946, the property is sold to James O. Watts, who owned the property until 1979 when he sold it Dr. James Johnson of High Point, North Carolina. In 1984, Dr. Johnson sold the property to the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, a non-profit organization, that is dedicated to saving and restoring Mr. Jefferson’s retreat.
Poplar Forest is still in the process of being restored. The exterior restoration was completed in 1998, with interior restoration still in progress. Archaeologists are still on site researching and restoring hundreds of artifacts that are being found on the property.
Poplar Forest contains many of President Jefferson’s designs that are also found at Monticello, including floor to ceiling windows, alcove beds and skylights. President Jefferson designed several octagonal buildings but Poplar Forest was the only one that was actually built. In keeping with Poplar Forest’s octagon design, President Jefferson also designed and built two-octagon privy’s which stand on each side of the main house.
Today, Poplar Forest is open to the public and offers a 40-minute guided tour of the main house. Following the guided tour, visitors are free to explore the grounds at their leisure. Poplar Forest is open from 10 – 4 Wednesday – Monday, from April through November. Poplar Forest is closed on Tuesdays and on Thanksgiving Day. Admission to Poplar Forest is $9.00.
Source/ Credit: Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Poplar Forest
Street address:
1548 Bateman Bridge Road
Forest, Va. United States
24551
County / Borough / Parish: Bedford County
Year listed: 1969
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Architecture, Engineering, Person
Periods of significance: 1800 - 1849
Historic function: Domestic Dwelling
Current function: Historic Attraction, Preservation,
Privately owned?: yes
Season start / Season finish: From: 04/01/2007 To: 11/30/2007
Hours of operation: From: 10:00 AM To: 4:00 PM
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.