Forest: Poplar Forest and the New London Academy

Forest brings together two historical topics that are easy to distinguish when planning your trip: Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, with its architectural and plantation history, and the New London Academy, with its founding, buildings, and distinctive institutional status. You can choose your focus based on whether you are more interested in the history of a house and the people behind it or in the development of an academy.

Poplar Forest: Construction history and interpretation

Construction at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest began in 1806; the building was complete by the time Jefferson died in 1826. Around two decades separate the start and completion. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971, a different point in time from the construction period. Since 1983, the Corporation for Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest has developed the site through a program of restoration and research as a historic site and house museum. To put the timeline in context, the construction period, designation, and institutional restoration and research efforts are distinct chapters.

During visits to Poplar Forest, stories are shared about Jefferson’s family, the free and enslaved craftspeople who built the historic structure, and the enslaved people who lived and worked on the plantation. The construction work and plantation life offer different perspectives: the story encompasses both the building of the house and the lives and work of the enslaved people on the plantation. The visit therefore includes not only the history of the building but also the roles of different groups.

The New London Academy and its buildings

The New London Academy was founded in 1795. Its oldest building was constructed between 1837 and 1839 in the Greek Revival style. The founding date and construction period mark different milestones: you can distinguish the institution’s early beginnings from the construction of its oldest building. The New London Academy is the only public secondary school in Virginia operating under a charter of the General Assembly. This distinctive institutional status adds another dimension to its architectural history. An original kitchen outbuilding on the grounds is also used as a museum about the academy’s history. If you would like to visit this museum, check access arrangements in advance. The Greek Revival style draws on forms of ancient Greek architecture.

In comparison, Poplar Forest focuses on the building and the stories of the family, craftspeople, and enslaved plantation residents. The New London Academy, by contrast, centers on the development of an educational institution, its oldest building, and its distinctive charter status. This distinction can help you choose a historical focus for your trip without reducing both stories to the same kind of place.

Discover more destinations: Montvale, Bedford, Goode, Moneta

For the broader travel overview: Bedford County.