John T. Lewis JohnThomasLewis.com
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| Monticello's West Portico Steps Did They Exist During Jefferson's Time? by John T. Lewis September 26, 2008 |
If you've ever been to Monticello, you know that the the West Front of the mansion (the side most
photographed / dome side) has several steps leading up to the Portico. A portico is a fancy word for a covered
porch. Most literature simply refers to these as the West Portico Steps and is clearly seen in this photograph of
my daughter during our 2008 trip to the mountain.
photographed / dome side) has several steps leading up to the Portico. A portico is a fancy word for a covered
porch. Most literature simply refers to these as the West Portico Steps and is clearly seen in this photograph of
my daughter during our 2008 trip to the mountain.
The truth is that these steps did not actually exist in Mr. Jefferson's time. I have just purchased a lovely piece
of literature from the June, 1902 edition of Country Life in America which contains a short article on Monticello.
The article and photographs are before it was purchased in 1923 by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation when it
was still owned by the Levy family.
Looking at these pictures found in the article, you will see an earthen type of ramp leading up to the Portico
and not the steps seen today. Were the steps a later addition to the Mansion or are they original to
Jefferson's time and perhaps just buried during the Levy family years?
of literature from the June, 1902 edition of Country Life in America which contains a short article on Monticello.
The article and photographs are before it was purchased in 1923 by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation when it
was still owned by the Levy family.
Looking at these pictures found in the article, you will see an earthen type of ramp leading up to the Portico
and not the steps seen today. Were the steps a later addition to the Mansion or are they original to
Jefferson's time and perhaps just buried during the Levy family years?
With these photographs and others, the Monticello Department of Archaeology took upon itself the task of
conducting an archaeological dig around the structure. They found that this type of masonry step structure
was in fact not a part of the house during Jefferson's time. The masonry steps now present were built in
1926 soon after the Thomas Jefferson Foundation purchased Monticello.
A conflicting piece of evidence, however, is that ten paintings and drawings from 1802 to 1833 show steps
leading to the West Portico. This watercolor of 1825 (one year before Jefferson's death) clearly shows
steps. According to the study, this area of the home had been under construction several years prior to
1825. Evidence suggests that Mr. Jefferson intended to add steps at some time, but something, perhaps
his financial troubles, prevented completion. It was concluded, based on the archaeological dig which
clearly showed no steps, that the paintings and drawings depict Monticello as Mr. Jefferson intended it to
look in it's finished condition.
conducting an archaeological dig around the structure. They found that this type of masonry step structure
was in fact not a part of the house during Jefferson's time. The masonry steps now present were built in
1926 soon after the Thomas Jefferson Foundation purchased Monticello.
A conflicting piece of evidence, however, is that ten paintings and drawings from 1802 to 1833 show steps
leading to the West Portico. This watercolor of 1825 (one year before Jefferson's death) clearly shows
steps. According to the study, this area of the home had been under construction several years prior to
1825. Evidence suggests that Mr. Jefferson intended to add steps at some time, but something, perhaps
his financial troubles, prevented completion. It was concluded, based on the archaeological dig which
clearly showed no steps, that the paintings and drawings depict Monticello as Mr. Jefferson intended it to
look in it's finished condition.
Examining this drawing shows steps on the East side of the house (bottom part of the picture) which
archaeologists know for certain were present during Jefferson's time. We also see steps on each of the
corners. The West Portico (top part of the picture), however, shows no steps. We must assume from this
that they did not actually exist on the day Thomas Jefferson died. The earthen ramp leading to the Portico
was probably exactly as TH: Jefferson saw it in his day. This was a perfectly acceptable way to build
something during this time.
There are several items both inside and outside the Mansion which did not exist during Jefferson's time.
The West Portico steps are one such thing. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has taken the position of
restoring Monticello not only to how it looked during our third President's life, but also how he intended it to
look upon it's completion. Rest assured, when you visit this beloved home, you are seeing a Monticello
very much as Mr. Jefferson wanted it to be.
Note:
1. For further study, you can check out a detailed presentation of this research complete with lots of
pictures and figures: http://www.monticello.org/archaeology/publications/westportico.pdf
2. The grassed area between the top of the steps and the Portico is easily explained when we understand
that it originally was an earthen ramp rather than steps. This grassy area is what originally led me into this
study.
archaeologists know for certain were present during Jefferson's time. We also see steps on each of the
corners. The West Portico (top part of the picture), however, shows no steps. We must assume from this
that they did not actually exist on the day Thomas Jefferson died. The earthen ramp leading to the Portico
was probably exactly as TH: Jefferson saw it in his day. This was a perfectly acceptable way to build
something during this time.
There are several items both inside and outside the Mansion which did not exist during Jefferson's time.
The West Portico steps are one such thing. The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has taken the position of
restoring Monticello not only to how it looked during our third President's life, but also how he intended it to
look upon it's completion. Rest assured, when you visit this beloved home, you are seeing a Monticello
very much as Mr. Jefferson wanted it to be.
Note:
1. For further study, you can check out a detailed presentation of this research complete with lots of
pictures and figures: http://www.monticello.org/archaeology/publications/westportico.pdf
2. The grassed area between the top of the steps and the Portico is easily explained when we understand
that it originally was an earthen ramp rather than steps. This grassy area is what originally led me into this
study.
One final piece of evidence comes to us from Cornelia Randolph. On July 4, 1826, the day of Jefferson's
death, she put on paper exactly how Monticello looked. This, no doubt, was so that future generations
would know the exact details of this beloved home.
death, she put on paper exactly how Monticello looked. This, no doubt, was so that future generations
would know the exact details of this beloved home.
