Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest

Poplar Forest is a historic plantation house that served as a private retreat for Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States. Located near Lynchburg, Virginia, the property was treated by Jefferson as a personal sanctuary where he could escape the crowds of visitors at Monticello. The house was built according to Palladian principles, including a central cubic room, porches to the north and south, and a service wing to the east.

Restoration Efforts at Poplar Forest

Since 1986, the Poplar Forest house has undergone several phases of restoration to recover its appearance when Jefferson lived there. In an effort to restore the original landscape, five hundred acres of the original plantation have been bought back. This provides a scenic relief to the building and allows visitors to experience the property as Jefferson would have seen it.