WINTER 2012 www.monticello.org VOLUME 23, NUMBER 2 World Heritage Site —

United Nations Monticello and the University of Virginia Educational, Scientific and in Charlottesville inscribed on the Celebrating 25 Years Cultural Organization World Heritage List in 1978

25 years ago, Monticello and the University of Virginia’s Academical Village were together named a UNESCO World Heritage Site

HOMAS JEFFERSON, third president, Tphilosopher, scientist, historian, and author of the Declaration of the Independence, helped establish the foundations of self-government and individual freedom we In December 1987, the United Nations the meeting the committee announced the know today. Jefferson’s Educational, Scientific and Cultural inclusion of 41 cultural and natural proper- words—the Declaration Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage ties on the World Heritage List—among and his more than Committee recognized the significance of them was the world’s longest human-made 19,000 letters—and his Jefferson’s architecture and its importance structure—the Great Wall of China; the for future generations. During its 11th ses- ancient Acropolis in Athens, Greece; the architecture—including sion in 1987, the UNESCO World Heritage city of Venice and its lagoon; the Roman Monticello and the Committee met for five days in Paris, City of Bath in the United Kingdom; and University of Virginia— France, to examine more than 60 prospec- Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the provide a lens for scholars tive World Heritage Sites. University of Virginia’s Academical Village. Delegates considered each site and took The World Heritage Sites were chosen and visitors today to view account of the recommendations of the because they “represent a masterpiece of the beginnings of early International Council on Monuments and human creative genius” and “exhibit an America. Sites (ICOMOS) and the International important interchange of human values.” Union of the Conservation of Nature and Monticello is the only U.S. presidential Natural Resources (IUCN). At the end of and private home on the UNESCO World

Monticello is a newsletter published twice yearly by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc., the private, nonprofit corporation that has owned and operated Monticello since 1923. Its mission is preservation and education. Questions, comments and address changes should be directed to: Monticello Newsletter, P.O. Box 217, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902; [email protected]; or (434) 984-9822. 2 World Heritage Site — with Monticello were inscribedasaUNESCO World HeritageSite in1987. Thomas Jefferson founded theUniversity ofVirginia in1819. HisAcademical Village along Travels inNorth America: wrote abrief description ofit for his visited the“first” Monticelloand American perspective. ancient andoldworldswithafresh combines thebestelementsof blend ofbeautyandfunctionthat years. Thefinal product isaunique tinued onthemountaintop for forty architecture,” andconstructioncon referred toMonticelloashis“essayin roundings initsconstruction. awareness ofMonticello’snatural sur ideals oftheenlightenmentand Jefferson’s architecture symbolizesthe committee alsotooknoteofhow and theUniversity of Virginia.The elements increating bothMonticello ingenuity anduseofneo-classical Thomas Jefferson’s architectural “Statement ofSignificance” details Heritage List. Thedesignation’s shelter himself from the weather. Fine toknowArts how he should American whohas consulted the beMr. said that Jefferson isthe first seen in thiscountry; so thatitmay that itresembles none of the others not todescribe the toprove but house, My objectin givingthese detailsis In 1782, theMarquisdeChastellux A self-taughtarchitect,Jefferson - - Monticello.” very thoughtfully, onthestepsof naturalize aclassofnewcitizens, and of ournation’sbirthcertificate we recognize Jefferson’s authorship every yearonIndependence Day, Foundation. “It’s nocoincidencethat and CEOoftheThomasJefferson said Leslie Greene Bowman,President givenpeople everywhere,” to hope world-changing ideaswhichhave of Independence, heintroduced both MonticelloandtheDeclaration human equality. As thecreator of ducing self-government, liberty and them intoaNewWorld order intro about therights ofmanandcrafted Jefferson tookEnlightenmentideals symbolizes how, inthesameway, its day. from theother American homesof Monticello wasintentionallya farcry in design—aRenaissancevilla— tion—a frontier mountaintop—and architect Andrea Palladio. In loca in particularafter theworkof Italian ancient andRenaissancemodels, “On the world’s stage, Monticello “On theworld’sstage,Monticello Jefferson designedMonticelloafter

Celebrating25 Years - - Photo by Anderson Garth and widthofthePantheon inRome, of theLawnandishalfheight the Rotunda standsatthenorthend recognizable symboloftheUniversity, center-point—the Rotunda. Themost buildings, gardens,andthemajestic rounded byresidential andacademic Village, aterraced green spacesur old age.” and whathecalled“theHobbyofmy to beoneofhisgreatest achievements sidered thefounding oftheUniversity University of Virginia in1819.Hecon About theUniversity ofVirginia for thebuilding. which wastheprimary inspiration Jefferson designedthe Academical Thomas Jefferson foundedthe - -

WINTER 2012 3 World Heritage Site — architecture andphilosophy. inspired by principlesderived from hisdeepknowledge ofclassical Jefferson. Boththeuniversity buildingsandMonticello were directly directly andmaterially associated withtheideasandidealsofThomas (vi) Monticello andthekey buildingsoftheUniversity ofVirginia are the forms anddetailsofclassical architecture to contemporary buildings. contribution to neo-classicism, the18th-century movement that adapted (iv) With thesebuildingsThomas Jefferson madeasignificant they illustrate hiswidediversity ofinterests. his careful study ofthearchitecture oflate 18th-century Europe. Assuch reading ofclassical andlater works onarchitecture anddesignalso (i) BothMonticello andtheUniversity ofVirginia reflect Jefferson’s wide Criteria the natural landscape. that Jefferson was conscious of the relationship between architecture and that could beexpected asthecountry matured. Monticello alsoshows as theinheritor ofEuropean tradition andthecultural experimentation antiquity symbolizes boththeaspirations ofthenew Americanrepublic Jefferson’s useofanarchitectural vocabulary baseduponclassical a few milesaway, whichisstill theheartofUniversity ofVirginia. 1809), hisplantation home, andhisideal‘Academical Village’ (1817–26), and third president oftheUnited States. HedesignedMonticello (1769– buildings, aswell asauthoroftheAmericanDeclaration ofIndependence Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was atalented architect ofneo-classical Statement ofSignificance Celebrating25 Years

CelebrateCelebrate five dollars! to 1987 prices— be rolled back admission will when general week—December 7-11, 2012, Heritage List. Joinus for avery special Convention, which established theWorld 40th anniversary oftheWorld Heritage World HeritageList. This year alsomarksthe anniversary ofMonticello’s inclusioninthe December 7, 2012, marks the25th Learn more about thedesignation, and 1987 TICKETPRICESOF WE'RE ROLLINGBACK TO website at www.monticello.org/UNESCO submit your Monticello memories,onour 25 YEARS!

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7-11, 2012 $ 5!

WINTER 2012