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While Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia, may have been his primary residence, when Thomas Jefferson wanted to escape, he went to Poplar Forest, about 80 miles southwest.
He started construction on it in 1806 and began visiting regularly in 1809 when he was 66, going three or four times a year for several weeks at a time. He designed an octagonal house, reportedly so there would be no dark corners and slept in an alcove bed, like the one at Monticello.
Jefferson spent his time horseback riding, writing or reading one of the 1,000 books he kept in his library.
– Jan Schroder, Editor-in-chief