Destination Bedford offers big, bold and unforgettable experiences. You’ll see stunning beauty in the Blue Ridge Mountains and hear stories of bravery that will take your breath away at the National D-Day Memorial.
Behind the Scenes Tours at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest
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May 29, 2022 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Fifty years ago, the octagonal villa at Poplar Forest was unrecognizable. The simple elegance of the president’s Palladian-inspired design was hidden by the renovations subsequent owners made to the structure to suit their tastes. Learn how the restoration architects and architectural historians and craftsmen are continuing their meticulous restoration of what Jefferson affectionately called the “Best dwelling house in the state…” on an hour long guided tour by Travis McDonald, Poplar Forest’s Director of Architectural Restoration and the architect of the ground breaking restoration process developed to save the historic structure.
Tickets for the Architectural Restoration Behind the Scenes Talk and Tour are $20 in advance and $20 at the door. Admission also includes a guided house tour and self-guided exploration of exhibits in the lower level of the house, the Wing of Offices, the ornamental grounds and slave quarter site. Weekend visitors can add the Enslaved Community Tour (when available) to their itinerary at no extra cost.