Thomas Jefferson's Inventions
Thomas Jefferson was a famous inventor of his time, inventing lots of machines, some of which we still use today! Not only was he an inventor, but he was also a famous architect, archaeologist, botanist author, lawyer, founder of the University of Virginia, farmer, and much more! As an architect, he designed his home in Virginia, Monticello, pictured above.
Among his most famous inventions are the wheel cipher, the Great Clock, the sun dial, the moldboard plow of least resistance, a rotating book stand capable of holding 5 books, "automatic" double doors, the dumbwaiter elevator, a portable copying press, and the rotating, or swivel, chair. A lot of those inventions were already around, such as the moldboard plow, and Jefferson just modified them greatly to enhance their performance or their easiness of use, but some were also original designs.
The Attractions
In the room containing his inventions, the main attraction is a small room containing replicas of original designs invented by Thomas Jefferson that you can use hands on learning to figure out how they work and learn more about each invention. Along the walls you can find short movies showing the inventions in action and how they work, and detailed descriptions of each invention.
Thomas Jefferson was a famous inventor of his time, inventing lots of machines, some of which we still use today! Not only was he an inventor, but he was also a famous architect, archaeologist, botanist author, lawyer, founder of the University of Virginia, farmer, and much more! As an architect, he designed his home in Virginia, Monticello, pictured above.
Among his most famous inventions are the wheel cipher, the Great Clock, the sun dial, the moldboard plow of least resistance, a rotating book stand capable of holding 5 books, "automatic" double doors, the dumbwaiter elevator, a portable copying press, and the rotating, or swivel, chair. A lot of those inventions were already around, such as the moldboard plow, and Jefferson just modified them greatly to enhance their performance or their easiness of use, but some were also original designs.
The Attractions
In the room containing his inventions, the main attraction is a small room containing replicas of original designs invented by Thomas Jefferson that you can use hands on learning to figure out how they work and learn more about each invention. Along the walls you can find short movies showing the inventions in action and how they work, and detailed descriptions of each invention.