thomas jefferson's poplar forest

I resisted exploring this attraction when I first cam e to Lynchburg, fearing its unfinished character and sometimes hazy history. MISTAKE! This is one of the best place in this area for the history buff, the Jefferson-a-phile or simply for an enjoyable outing. The group that runs the site has done superlative job at interpreting it, holds many events through the year on the grounds, and has done and EXCELLENT job at preserving the home with an eye to helping folks understand its place in the life of Jefferson.A frequent visitor to Monticello, I fine this site, though smaller for sure, to offer unique insights into Mr Jefferson's life that the other site does not. Go, enjoy and see why Virginia is for lovers....of history!

The Poplar Forest App says it best: "Part architectural masterpiece, part engineering marvel and part work of art. Poplar Forest is more than Thomas Jefferson's personal retreat. It is the living embodiment of Jefferson's genius: blending landscape and architecture, the first octagonal home in America is one of only two homes he designed and built for his own use."

If you are visiting Appomattox, D-Day Memorial, Monticello, etc. youshould go to TJ's summer getaway home, very interestingarchaeological and historical displays , great docents. Have lunch at Lori's or Andy Chang's and dinner at Benjamin's nearby.

Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's summer retreat is a delightful experience for the Jefferson enthusiast. While it is still a work in progress the foundation has made great strides in restoring the property to reflect its appearance during Mr. Jefferson's time. They offer many different special programs and children's events during the year. It is a good idea to check their schedule in advance to optimize your visit. Any history nerd like myself will enjoy this experience

We were so looking forward to seeing Thomas Jefferson's summer home but were very disappointed. The home is empty, just bare walls, some construction, no furniture. Not what we were expecting at all. If we would have known there was nothing to see inside the house, we would not have visited. On a better note, the tour guide was very knowledgeable and we had a private tour. But after seeing other historical buildings in the area, this one was a disappointment.

Jefferson's other plantation is well worth the visit. It looks similar to Monticello but is much smaller. It is still being restored so there is more to see than if the house were finished. The landscape is also partially unrestored so the place will be interesting to revisit as more work is down. The exhibits in the basement and servants' wing are well done and information.

I've been on a lot of house tours in my life and this one was one of the best. The house is in the large shadow of the better-known Monticello, but it offers an equally great insight into Jefferson the architect. It has undergone a painstaking restoration/reconstruction and the interpretive guides do an exceptional job of explaining it without too many details. As others have noted, the restoration is not complete yet, but it's a wonderful chance to see it in progress and marvel at the quality of the work that has been done. Kudos. (P.S., I visited with my teenage daughter who normally hates house tours--but she enjoyed this one.)

We were so glad we visited here before we visited Monticello- although after would be fine too.Poplar Forest was Jefferson's retreat and if you have toured Monticello and took the extended (recommended) tour there then you would appreciate Jefferson's need to get away from the madding crowd of family,servants and crowded condions there.Visiting here is much less crowded and personal. A beautiful setting and restoration in progress.

I first reviewed Poplar Forest 3 1/2 years ago. Went back for another visit this weekend, and I'm so glad that I did because I was able to see all the changes that have taken place since my first visit. The restoration keeps progressing, and you can tell that they are concerned with getting it right not just rushing through it. It doesn't get the crowds that Monticello gets. Consequently the tours are smaller and the docents can (and do!) spend more time answering questions. It is a hidden gem and definitely worth the visit.

When Thomas Jefferson wanted to get away from Monticello and his social life there, he came to Poplar Forest. Jefferson designed and built this retreat on a working farm his wife inherited. It's smaller and simpler than Monticello, but touring it provides plenty of insights into this brilliant and eccentric man. (The "necessaries," or outhouses, were brick and octagonal, in the style of the house.) The estate was out of the family for decades, was modernized and "improved," and was damaged by a fire. The nonprofit group that is restoring it is doing an excellent job of researching exactly how things were in Jefferson's day. It's still a work in progress, which means that in some rooms, you can see how the house was constructed. The tour guide was excellent, very well informed, friendly and pleasant. This place isn't nearly as well known as Monticello, and is off the beaten path, so except when one of the special events is underway, you're likely not to have to deal with crowds. There is a fee, and National Parks passes are not honored, but the money is going to a worthy cause. The grounds are lovely and a pleasant place to stroll. For anyone with an interest in history and in Jefferson in particular, Poplar Forest is well worth a visit.

we have been to and reviewed Poplar Forest before. We went to the wine festival and it was very well organized, and presented. Almost 20 Virginia wineries were represented. It was a beautiful, but chilly day - in the 40s. Large tents with heaters housed the events and heaters were spaced around the lawn. Two excellent bands provided music and Thomas Jefferson appeared to discuss life at Poplar Forest. He was very gracious and posed with revelers for photos and is very knowledgeable. He knew many details about my distant relative, Timothy Matlock.The food vendors were hidden away a bit but the food was outstanding. We ate at Gregory's Grill. The crab cake was extremely good: the real deal made with lump crab. My wife's fried oysters were excellent, lightly breaded and cooked perfectly.There was a vendor area with very nice vendors of handmade jewelry, genuine Australian clothing, chocolate, peanuts, oriental rugs and more.

Poplar Forest was Jefferson's retreat from his busy affairs and the onslaught of visitors and handout-seekers always present at Monticello. A visit here will give you a sense of the relaxation and introspection he sought in nature and in his books. The estate still retains something of the feeling of a home rather than a national landmark, and it is fascinating to observe the ongoing archaeological discoveries that are continually being made. Because it is not yet well known, Poplar Forest is not flooded with crowds of tourists, and the guides enjoy taking time to answer your questions. With a little imagination, you could almost see "Mr. Jefferson" strolling among the poplar trees he planted. Take time to walk the grounds after touring the house.

Awesome program! This happens one night out of the year, and this is the second year. We were fortunate enough to be staying in Lynchburg for a few months for work, and had friends visiting for the weekend. There were very few tickets left, and we were lucky to be able to get on the 7pm tour. Perfect timing, because it was just getting dark, and so the firelight was perfect. Glad we had our flashlights with us, because we were walking the grounds in the dark. The presenters were all wonderful, and it was obvious they all had a passion for the subjects they were hosting. The musical presentation was my favorite, but truly it was difficult to pick just one. We had an amazing night.

This was Thomas Jefferson’s vacation home when he wanted to get away from Monticello. The home changed hands several times and underwent changes with each occupant and a fire that gutted the interior but left the brick walls intact. The preservation foundation is trying to restore the home exactly as it was in Thomas Jefferson’s time. While some reviewers complained about the unfinished condition of the home, I found that quite interesting. You get to see inside walls and see how it was constructed. An incredible amount of time, effort, money and attention to detail is going into the restoration. This is an interesting attraction.

After visiting Mr. Jefferson's home of Monticello a few years ago, we had wanted to visit his smaller home. It is much smaller, but still very indicative of the intelligence this man had. The guide was very helpful, and we enjoyed everything there.