Experiencing Poplar Forest now is “being there in the beginning”….

It is witnessing the archaeologists bringing new information to light about Thomas Jefferson.  As they find and fit together more of the pieces of the puzzle, each year more and more of Jefferson’s design for his ideal personal landscape comes back into focus, and we gain more insight into what it was like living at this plantation retreat.  

It is walking through the architecture Jefferson designed as each year step-by-step it returns to its original form.  Each year the parts and details of the house unfold through restoration in exactly the same sequence as the building emerged while Jefferson was living through its construction. 

Visiting Jefferson’s retreat now is seeing “the real thing” at a unique and exciting stage in its history, that later generations will not personally experience-- though they will be the beneficiaries of the rescue and preservation now taking place.  On weekdays, you have the opportunity to talk with the archaeologists and restoration carpenters about exactly how they are figuring out what Poplar Forest was like and how they do their craft.

The rescue of the land is still in process.  Tremendous progress has been made. Funds are needed to complete payment on 39 acres the nonprofit is currently working to rescue.  Rescue has not yet begun for approximately 12% of the land that is essential to preserving the core of the retreat.  

The restoration of the three surviving Jefferson-designed buildlings is well along.  The exterior restoration has been completed on the main, octagonal building and its “wing of offices.”  The interiors are completely restored in the two flanking octagonal “privies” but the interior of the main building needs restoration.

The other dimension of Jefferson’s retreat environment—his landscape— is undergoing step-by-step archaeological exploration to fill in the gaps of our knowledge about exactly what his design looked like and how he may have evolved it. This investigation is essential to provide insight into his ideas and enable restoration of the design. While much has been learned through excavating several features of the landscape, the majority of the landscape exploration is still ahead. 

The plantation and the individuals who comprised its year-round community are a rich frontier to understand.  So far archaeology has revealed fascinating detail about several quarter sites, and excavating is happening now in a plantation support area that was in active use in Jefferson’s time.  Most of the plantation archaeology remains to be done.

Developing facilities and programs for people to use at Poplar Forest is also in its earliest stage.   Today it is possible to tour, participate in special events, attend archaeology and architectural restoration field schools, and by appointment classes of school children can experience a special hands-on history program.  There is tremendous potential to be tapped in future years— for insight into Thomas Jefferson’s life and ideas… for inspiration about living lives of curiosity and creativity… and for insight into the people who lived and worked in this plantation community in Jefferson’s time.

It takes many years, many steps, and many people to rescue, restore, and develop for  public use a major American landmark.

If we as individuals are accountable to those who succeed us, we have today an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate that trust. Once in a great while we have the opportunity to achieve something signficant, something that will endure.  The protection and restoration of Thomas Jefferson’s retreat for future generations is such an opportunity.