Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest

Inherited through his father-in-law in 1773, Poplar Forest was Thomas Jefferson’s personal retreat and plantation.  The villa at Poplar Forest was one of only two homes Jefferson designed for his personal use and was the place where Jefferson “came to indulge in the life of the mind and renew his personal creativity.”  When his presidency ended in 1809, Jefferson visited the retreat three or four times a year, often staying for several months at a time during planting seasons. 

Designated a National Historic Landmark, and nearly lost to development, Poplar Forest was rescued in 1984 by a group of local citizens who sought to preserve it for the cultural and educational benefit of the public. Today, the neoclassical architecture of the octagonal house has been returned to Mr. Jefferson’s design and the Corporation for Jefferson’s Poplar Forest strives to better tell the stories of all who lived and worked at Poplar Forest. 

Admission includes either a docent-guided house tour or self-guided tour using the Poplar Forest smartphone app and self-guided exploration of exhibits in the lower level of the house, the Wing of Offices, the ornamental grounds and the slave quarter site.

Special Admissions

• Tours for groups of 20 or more are available by appointment at a discounted rate.
• Admission for members of the military and their families is free (with ID) from Armed Forces Day through Labor Day as part of the Blue Star Museums programs.