Restoration at Poplar Forest
Through the years, Jefferson’s cherished retreat underwent many changes as the families who lived there remodeled the home to meet personal needs and changing fashions, and provide modern conveniences.
In the 1840s, the Hutter family who owned the house took advantage of a fire and replaced Jefferson’s Roman Revival balustrade on the roof with a Greek Revival style and dormers. They also converted Jefferson’s rotunda space in the dining room to two stories, and tore down parts of the wing of service rooms on the east side of the house.
Still, the house retained its original octagonal design and walls, and parts of the wing and its foundation survived.
The restoration of Jefferson’s villa is being done in phases for two reasons. In-depth research precedes all hands-on work, and funding from mostly private sources is secured before the start of a major project.
Read more about the restoration phases by following the links below:
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