This week, I had the pleasure of accompanying two good friends to Monticello to take advantage of the new “behind the scenes” tour. The last time I visited was about 15 years ago, and since then, the historic site has undergone major renovations, including the construction of a new $43 million visitor center that opened last year that includes a gallery, a theater, a discovery center, and a large gift shop (one of two on the property, because you just can’t have enough souvenirs).

We started our day in the theater, watching the new video, Thomas Jefferson’s World, which stresses the importance of freedom as the main theme of Jefferson’s work, tries hard to reconcile Jefferson’s ideals with his dependence on his “enslaved workers” (and for me, fails), and works its way all the way up to the inauguration of Barack Obama.

Our $37 behind-the-scenes ticket gave us access to the private second-floor bedrooms occupied by Jefferson’s extended family (mainly daughter Martha and her 11 children), and to the interior of the third-floor dome, complete with attic space. You climb up the very narrow staircases (the only ones in the house) to reach the upper floors, where unlike in the large rooms of the main floor, you are allowed to take photos. While much of the main floor is devoted to Jefferson’s social life, personal pursuits, and clever gadgets, the upper floors focus on Jefferson’s lively family life.

After our look at the upper levels, we joined the hoi polloi for the main house tour, and spent the rest of the afternoon roaming the grounds, checking out the gardens, and visiting Jefferson’s grave. We ended the day back in the gallery at the visitor center, where more details of the estate’s architecture are revealed. We could have used another hour or so to really explore every nook and cranny of the grounds and all of the exhibits and displays at the visitor center, but our time and stamina on this hot summer day just gave out.

The behind-the-scenes tour is given twice daily, at 10:30 and 2:30. Advance tickets are highly recommended, and can be ordered online. These tours will be available until Oct. 31. For more info, check out monticello.org.

One of the very narrow staircases in the home:

Peering down at visitors from a second floor bedroom:

Inside the dome:

Attic space off the dome room:

View from one of the dome room windows:

One of several skylights:

View from the garden side:

Gallery space at the visitor center:

The new visitor center is beautifully landscaped:

This week, I had the pleasure of accompanying two good friends to Monticello to take advantage of the new “behind the scenes” tour. The last time I visited was about 15 years ago, and since then, the historic site has undergone major renovations, inclu…

This week, I had the pleasure of accompanying two good friends to Monticello to take advantage of the new “behind the scenes” tour. The last time I visited was about 15 years ago, and since then, the historic site has undergone major renovations, inclu…

This week, I had the pleasure of accompanying two good friends to Monticello to take advantage of the new “behind the scenes” tour. The last time I visited was about 15 years ago, and since then, the historic site has undergone major renovations, including the construction of a new $43 million visitor center that opened last year that includes a gallery, a theater, a discovery center, and a large gift shop (one of two on the property, because you just can’t have enough souvenirs).

We started our day in the theater, watching the new video, Thomas Jefferson’s World, which stresses the importance of freedom as the main theme of Jefferson’s work, tries hard to reconcile Jefferson’s ideals with his dependence on his “enslaved workers” (and for me, fails), and works its way all the way up to the inauguration of Barack Obama.

Our $37 behind-the-scenes ticket gave us access to the private second-floor bedrooms occupied by Jefferson’s extended family (mainly daughter Martha and her 11 children), and to the interior of the third-floor dome, complete with attic space. You climb up the very narrow staircases (the only ones in the house) to reach the upper floors, where unlike in the large rooms of the main floor, you are allowed to take photos. While much of the main floor is devoted to Jefferson’s social life, personal pursuits, and clever gadgets, the upper floors focus on Jefferson’s lively family life.

After our look at the upper levels, we joined the hoi polloi for the main house tour, and spent the rest of the afternoon roaming the grounds, checking out the gardens, and visiting Jefferson’s grave. We ended the day back in the gallery at the visitor center, where more details of the estate’s architecture are revealed. We could have used another hour or so to really explore every nook and cranny of the grounds and all of the exhibits and displays at the visitor center, but our time and stamina on this hot summer day just gave out.

The behind-the-scenes tour is given twice daily, at 10:30 and 2:30. Advance tickets are highly recommended, and can be ordered online. These tours will be available until Oct. 31. For more info, check out monticello.org.

One of the very narrow staircases in the home:

Peering down at visitors from a second floor bedroom:

Inside the dome:

Attic space off the dome room:

View from one of the dome room windows:

One of several skylights:

View from the garden side:

Gallery space at the visitor center:

The new visitor center is beautifully landscaped:

This week, I had the pleasure of accompanying two good friends to Monticello to take advantage of the new “behind the scenes” tour. The last time I visited was about 15 years ago, and since then, the historic site has undergone major renovations, i…

Many towns across the country have outdoor summer concerts, and Fredericksburg holds its own against any of them, just one of the many things I love about this town. Despite funding cutbacks for the libraries and arts this year, there still manages to be lots of summer music in the air in Fredericksburg. On Saturday night, we caught the first Bluemont concert of the summer (a shortened schedule due to financial constraints) featuring legendary bluegrass banjoist Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie (above). The group played a mix of contemporary and classic bluegrass, and the performance was a real treat. Next Saturday, we’ll be back to hear Furnace Mountain, for what sounds like a quirky mix of fiddle, bouzouki, bass, mandolin and washtub in what the band’s website refers to as “ethno Appalachian roots music.” This year, the Bluemont concerts are being held in the shade on the Kenmore St. side of Maury Field, so bring a blanket or chair, because there’s no bleacher seating.

We’re also regulars at Monday night’s Music on the Library Steps, where next Monday we’ll hear the always-entertaining Company Store Band. Despite serious library cutbacks, the Friends of the Library have managed to keep this concert series alive. We’ve also checked out the Thursday night concert series at the Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre (is that enough misplaced e’s for you?), which continues presenting local musicians through the end of July (6-9 p.m., sponsored by B101). The crowd was non-existent on the night we went, but it was the first of the series (featuring Pete Mealy and Laurie Rose Griffith), so I’m hoping it’s picked up some momentum as more people hear about it. And at First Fridays this past weekend, we stopped and listened to the music in Market Square (Pete and Laurie again, but I never get tired of listening to them), sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Museum monthly throughout the summer. The free concert begins at 7:00 pm and ends at 10:00 pm.—bring a chair if you plan to stay awhile. Add to that the monthly Finally Fridays concerts on Sophia Street, the lunchtime concerts at Hurkamp Park on Tuesdays in May, June and September, outdoor performances by the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, the concerts at Celebrate Virginia, performances by the Fredericksburg Community Concert Band, just to name the ones I can think of off the top of my head, and you can see that you don’t have to go very long between outdoor summer concerts in the burg.

Many towns across the country have outdoor summer concerts, and Fredericksburg holds its own against any of them, just one of the many things I love about this town. Despite funding cutbacks for the libraries and arts this year, there still manages to …

Many towns across the country have outdoor summer concerts, and Fredericksburg holds its own against any of them, just one of the many things I love about this town. Despite funding cutbacks for the libraries and arts this year, there still manages to …

Many towns across the country have outdoor summer concerts, and Fredericksburg holds its own against any of them, just one of the many things I love about this town. Despite funding cutbacks for the libraries and arts this year, there still manages to be lots of summer music in the air in Fredericksburg. On Saturday night, we caught the first Bluemont concert of the summer (a shortened schedule due to financial constraints) featuring legendary bluegrass banjoist Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie (above). The group played a mix of contemporary and classic bluegrass, and the performance was a real treat. Next Saturday, we’ll be back to hear Furnace Mountain, for what sounds like a quirky mix of fiddle, bouzouki, bass, mandolin and washtub in what the band’s website refers to as “ethno Appalachian roots music.” This year, the Bluemont concerts are being held in the shade on the Kenmore St. side of Maury Field, so bring a blanket or chair, because there’s no bleacher seating.

We’re also regulars at Monday night’s Music on the Library Steps, where next Monday we’ll hear the always-entertaining Company Store Band. Despite serious library cutbacks, the Friends of the Library have managed to keep this concert series alive. We’ve also checked out the Thursday night concert series at the Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre (is that enough misplaced e’s for you?), which continues presenting local musicians through the end of July (6-9 p.m., sponsored by B101). The crowd was non-existent on the night we went, but it was the first of the series (featuring Pete Mealy and Laurie Rose Griffith), so I’m hoping it’s picked up some momentum as more people hear about it. And at First Fridays this past weekend, we stopped and listened to the music in Market Square (Pete and Laurie again, but I never get tired of listening to them), sponsored by the Fredericksburg Area Museum monthly throughout the summer. The free concert begins at 7:00 pm and ends at 10:00 pm.—bring a chair if you plan to stay awhile. Add to that the monthly Finally Fridays concerts on Sophia Street, the lunchtime concerts at Hurkamp Park on Tuesdays in May, June and September, outdoor performances by the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra, the concerts at Celebrate Virginia, performances by the Fredericksburg Community Concert Band, just to name the ones I can think of off the top of my head, and you can see that you don’t have to go very long between outdoor summer concerts in the burg.

Many towns across the country have outdoor summer concerts, and Fredericksburg holds its own against any of them, just one of the many things I love about this town. Despite funding cutbacks for the libraries and arts this year, there still manages to …