Jefferson began construction on the eight-sided house, his year-round retreat, in 1806. But Poplar Forest was more than a house where he could get away from the hustle and bustle of Monticello. It was a working plantation and helped provide him with income. The house changed a great deal when it caught fire in 1845 and then again when it was modernized in the twentieth century.

Since 1986, I've followed the painstaking research done on the house and the grounds. Archaeological digs have provided many clues to the past. Inside the house, the walls have been taken down to the bare, original brick revealing many important details. Work was also done to stabilize the property until actual restoration could begin.

Each trip to Poplar Forest is exciting. The changes in the house have been dramatic now that restoration is under way. One of the most remarkable changes to me is the return of the skylight to the center room which is a twenty-foot cube. When I first saw that room it was half the height and much darker.

The camera and I have had a unique view of Poplar Forest from research to stabilization to restoration ... watching the progress from many angles, including the roof. I believe Jefferson would be proud of the attention to detail and the craftsmanship that has gone into restoring his retreat. It has been an honor and a privilege to follow the progress that has been made.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Beirne Carter Foundation, Blue Ridge Public Television is bringing you the remarkable story of how Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest is being restored to its original design. The hour-long documentary, originally broadcast in 1999, is available for purchase. The cost is $29.95. Contact Blue Ridge PBS for more information.