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   Monticello was the estate of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia; it is also, at his direction, the site of Jefferson's burial place. Jefferson's words "all men are created equal" and have a right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" - established the foundation of self-government and individual freedom in America. After writing the Declaration, Jefferson spent the next 33 years in public life, serving as delegate to the Virginia General Assembly and to Congress, as governor of Virginia, minister to France, secretary of State, vice president, and president from 1801 to 1809. Notable achievments of Jefferson's presidency include the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
   The house, which Jefferson designed, was based on the neoclassical principles described in the books of the Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio. It is situated on the summit of an 850-foot (260 m)-high peak in the Southwest Mountains south of the Rivanna Gap. Its name comes from the Italian "little mountain." An image of the west front of Monticello by Felix Schlag has been featured on the reverse of the nickel minted since 1938. Monticello also appeared on the reverse of the two-dollar bill from 1928 to 1966, when the bill was discontinued. The current bill was introduced in 1976 and retains Jefferson's portrait on the obverse but replaced Monticello on the reverse with an engraved modified reproduction of John Trumbull's painting Declaration of Independence instead. The gift shop at Monticello hands out two-dollar bills as change.

   Monticello is a National Historic Landmark, located just outside Charlottesville, VA., along with the nearby University of Virginia, also designed by Jefferson, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Since 1923 it has been owned and operated by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.