Poplar Forest, State Route 661, Forest vicinity, Bedford County, VA

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Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey

22 drawings
74 b&w photos
2 data pages
5 photo caption pages
10 color transparencies

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TITLE:
Poplar Forest, State Route 661, Forest vicinity, Bedford County, VA

CALL NUMBER:
HABS VA,10-BED.V,1-

REPRODUCTION NUMBER:
[See Call Number]

MEDIUM:
Measured Drawing(s): 22 (24 x 36 in.)
Photo(s): 74 (5 x 7 in.)
Data Page(s): 1 plus cover page
Photo Caption Page(s): 5
Color Transparencies: 10

DATE:
Documentation compiled after 1933.

CREATOR:
Historic American Buildings Survey, creator

NOTE:
Survey number HABS VA-303

Unprocessed field note material exists for this structure (FN-328).

Building/structure dates: 1819 initial construction

Building/structure dates: 1845 subsequent work

National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 69000223

Significance: Poplar Forest, one of Thomas Jefferson's most accomplished architectural essays, was built from 1806-19. It was described by its designer-builder as "...the best dwelling in the state, except that of Monticello, perhaps preferable to that, as more proportioned to the faculties of a private citizen." Poplar Forest served Jefferson as a welcome retreat from the constant stream of guests and press of business at Monticello. When Jefferson died in 1826, the estate was left to his grandson, Francis Wayles Eppes, who sold it two years later. It then remained in the interrelated Cobbs-Hutter family for 118 years. In 1845 the house burned, and although the extent of the damage has not been determined, the present roof (which departs from Jefferson's design) as well as the interior trim, date from this time. From 1946 to 1979, Poplar Forest was the home of Mr. and Mrs. James O. Watts, Jr. In 1983 the property was purchased by the Corporation for Jefferson's Poplar Forest, which plans to restore the house and open it to the public. Because of both its architectural merit and historical significance, Poplar Forest has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

SUBJECTS:
VIRGINIA--Bedford County--Forest vicinity

COLLECTION:
Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress)

REPOSITORY:
Library of Congress, Prints and Photograph Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

DIGID:
http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.va0270

CONTENTS:
Photograph caption(s):
GENERAL VIEW FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, FROM MAIN ENTRANCE ROAD TO HOUSE (BARELY VISIBLE ON HILL) (1987)
GENERAL VIEW PROM SOUTHWEST (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST (1986)
GENERAL VIEW OF SOUTH ELEVATION (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTHEAST (1986)
GENERAL VIEW OF EAST ELEVATION WITH SCALE (1986)
GENERAL VIEW OF LAST ELEVATION WITHOUT SCALE (1986)
GENERAL VIEW OF COMPLEX (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM EAST MOUND, PAST DAIRY AND SUMMER KITCHEN TO HOUSE (1986)
NORTH FRONT ELEVATION, FLASH FILL, SIDE #7 (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF WEST ELEVATION OF SOUTH PORCH INCLUDING WINDOW ON SECOND FLOOR (SEE VA-303-48) (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF SOUTH PORCH FROM SOUTHWEST (1986)
SOUTH ELEVATION, SIDE #3, WITH SCALE (1986)
VIEW OF SOUTH PORCH FROM SOUTHEAST (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF SOUTH PORCH FOUNDATION FROM EAST (1986)
SOUTHEAST ELEVATION, SIDE #2, WITH SCALE (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF EAST ELEVATION WITHOUT SCALE (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OP EAST ELEVATION WITH SCALE (1986)
VIEW OF EAST ELEVATION, OCTAGONAL SIDE #1, WITH SCALE ON PROJECTION (1986)
VIEW OF EAST ELEVATION, OCTAGONAL SIDE #1, WITH SCALE ON HOUSE WALL (1986)
NORTHEAST ELEVATION, SIDE #8, WITH SCALE (1986)
NORTHWEST ELEVATION WITH SCALE, SIDE #6 (1986)
WEST ELEVATION, DETAIL VIEW OF SIDE #5, WITH SCALE (1986)
WEST ELEVATION, DETAIL VIEW OF SIDE #5, WITH SCALE (1986)
SOUTHWEST ELEVATION, DETAIL VIEW, SIDE #4, WITH SCALE (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF THE WEST CHIMNEY FROM THE SOUTH (HORIZONTALLY NOT CORRECTED) (1987)
DETAIL VIEW OF THE WEST CHIMNEY FROM THE SOUTH (HORIZONTALLY CORRECTED)(1987)
GENERAL VIEW FROM ROOFTOP OF HOUSE TO SOUTHEAST SHOWING GARDEN ENCLOSURE (1987)
GENERAL VIEW FROM NORTH FRONT PORCH TO NORTH (AN EXTENSION OF VA-303-66) (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTH REAR PORCH TO THE SOUTH SHOWING COLUMNS (1986)
GENERAL VIEW TO WEST FROM SOUTH REAR PORCH, SHOWS WEST MOUND (1986)
VIEW OF WEST MOUND FROM THE EAST (1986)
VIEW IN ATTIC LEVEL FROM CENTER OF ATTIC TO NORTHWEST CORNER SHOWING ENTRANCE PROM STAIR LANDING (1987)
VIEW IN ATTIC LEVEL OF NORTHEAST CORNER, SHOWING EXPOSED AREA OF SPLIT LATH IN CEILING, AND SECTION OF NORTH BOARD WALL ENCLOSURE (1987)
DETAIL VIEW OF HAND-SPLIT LATH IN CEILING, EAST SECTION OF CEILING, ATTIC (1987)
VIEW IN ATTIC LEVEL SHOWING COMPARTMENTATION AND STAIR ENCLOSURE TO ATTIC (1987)
FIRST FLOOR, SOUTH ROOM, VIEW FROM WEST WITH SCALE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR. SOUTH ROOM, VIEW FROM WEST WITHOUT SCALE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, SOUTH ROOM, VIEW FROM EAST TO WEST, SOUTH INTERIOR DOOR TO RIGHT (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, SOUTH ROOM. WEST WALL WITH FIREPLACE AND WINDOW ON SOUTHWEST WALL, WITHOUT SCALE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR. SOUTH ROOM, WEST WALL WITH FIREPLACE AND WINDOW ON SOUTHWEST WALL, WITH SCALE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, SOUTH ROOM, NORTH WALL CENTER, DETAIL VIEW OF FRIEZE (1986)
VIEW FROM SOUTH ROOM THROUGH CENTRAL ROOM TO NORTH FRONT ENTRANCE, FIRST FLOOR, WITH SCALE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, CENTRAL ROOM, VIEW' TO THE NORTHWEST SHOWS DOORS, WINDOW TRANSOM AND CORNER FIREPLACE (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE, FIRST FLOOR, CENTRAL ROOM, NORTHWEST CORNER, WITHOUT SCALE (1986)
DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE, FIRST FLOOR CENTRAL ROOM, NORTHWEST CORNER, WITH SCALE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, CENTRAL ROOM, VIEW TO WINDER STAIR IN SOUTHEAST CORNER (SEE ALSO VA-303-72) (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, EAST OCTAGONAL ROOM, VIEW FROM SOUTH (1986)
VIEW IN EAST ROOM OF NORTH FIREPLACE AND MANTLE (1987)
VIEW OF FIRST FLOOR, EAST SIDE TO EAST CLOSET SHOWING FANLIGHT (1987)
DETAIL VIEW OF EAST CLOSET, FIRST FLOOR FROM WEST SHOWING BUILT-IN SHELVES AND DRAWERS (1986)
GENERAL VIEW THROUGH SEMI-CIRCULAR FANLIGHT, FIRST FLOOR EAST CLOSET TO SUMMER KITCHEN (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, NORTHEAST SMALL ROOM, DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE AND MANTLE (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, DETAIL VIEW OF FIREPLACE. MANTLE, AND WINDOW IN NORTHWEST OCTAGONAL ROOM (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, VIEW TO WEST CLOSET SHOWS EFFECT OF SUNLIGHT AND PLACEMENT OF WINDOWS (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, SEMI-CIRCULAR WINDOW IN WEST CLOSET (1986)
GENERAL VIEW, FIRST FLOOR FROM EAST TO WEST SHOWING INTERIOR DOOR TRANSOMS (1986)
FIRST FLOOR, VIEW FROM NORTH FRONT HALL TO OUTSIDE (1986)
VIEW IN NORTH HALL TO INTERIOR SIDE OF NORTH FRONT DOOR (1987)
CELLAR, SOUTH ROOM, VIEW WEST (1986)
CELLAR, SOUTH ROOM, VIEW EAST (1986)
CELLAR, WEST ROOM, VIEW TO SOUTH (1986)
CELLAR, WEST CLOSET, SHOWING LADDER TO TRAP (1986)
CELLAR, CENTRAL ROOM, VIEW TO WINDER STAIR, SOUTHEAST CORNER (SEE VA-303-55) (1986)
CELLAR, CENTRAL ROOM, VIEW IS TO NORTHWEST (1986)
DETAIL VIEW, SOUTHEAST CELLAR ENTRANCE, EAST SIDE OF DOOR, FROM INTERIOR, SHOWS WINDOW LIGHT TO SMALL ROOM (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTHEAST (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST (1986)
NORTH FRONT ELEVATION, FLASH FILL, SIDE #7 (1986)
HOUSE FROM SOUTH, SOUTH PORTICO
VIEW OF SOUTH PORCH FROM SOUTHEAST (1986)
ARCHED AREA OF SOUTH PORTICO AND ENTRANCE TO BASEMENT
GENERAL VIEW FROM THE NORTH FRONT PORCH TO NORTH (AN EXTENSION OF VA-303-66) (1986)
GENERAL VIEW FROM SOUTH REAR PORCH TO THE SOUTH SHOWING COLUMNS (1986)
GENERAL VIEW TO WEST FROM SOUTH REAR PORCH, SHOW WEST MOUND (1986)

CONTROL #:
VA0270

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