Monticello

Monticello, residence and estate of Thomas Jefferson, third United States president, located in Albemarle County, Virginia. Begun in 1770 and completely designed by Jefferson, the building was completed in 1809 in a complex architectural style. The 35-room house is made of red brick, trimmed with white wood; it has a Greek portico and is capped by a Roman style dome. An illusion of compactness is created by a terrace on either side of the structure that conceals stables, laundries, and servants' quarters. The president is buried in the family plot on the grounds. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation acquired Monticello in 1923. The mansion of Monticello was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.