Jefferson's Rotunda, University of Virginia.

The Rotunda (live webcam) – approximate latitude/longitude: N38° 01' 58" W78° 30' 14" – standing 77 feet (23.5 meters) in both height and diameter, is at one end of The Lawn, immersed in the Central Grounds of the University of Virginia and is part of what Jefferson called the "Academical Village". Designed by Thomas Jefferson to represent the "authority of nature and power of reason" and inspired by the Pantheon, construction began in 1822 and was completed in 1826, after his death. The Grounds of the new university were unique in that they surrounded a library housed in the Rotunda rather than a church, as was common at peer universities in the English-speaking world. The original construction cost of the Rotunda was $57,773. Thomas Jeffersons Rotunda File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Thomas Jeffersons Rotunda File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 N.S. – July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–1809), principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential founders of the United States. ... Website Virginia. ... In Mosta, Malta, the Rotunda of Santa Marija Assunta is covered by a saucer dome. ... The West Lawn in snow, 1914. ... Website Virginia. ... Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 N.S. – July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–1809), principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential founders of the United States. ... The Pantheon, Rome, in front of which stands the obelisk Macuteo, one of fourteen ancient Egyptian obelisks in Rome. ... 1822 (MDCCCXXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A modern-style library in Chambéry In the traditional sense of the word, a library is a collection of books and periodicals. ... Church in Villach, Austria. ...

The Marquis de Lafayette and James Madison dined with Thomas Jefferson in the Dome Room of the unfinished Rotunda at the University's inaugeral banquet, and Lafayette toasted Jefferson as the "Father of the University of Virginia". This brought Jefferson to tears, and he later had the phrase inscribed on his grave. A bust of Lafayette was given to the University in 1904 by the Government of France to honor the friendship between the two men. Today it stands in the North Oval Room. The Marquis de La Fayette Marie-Joseph-Paul-Roch-Yves-Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette (September 6, 1757 – May 20, 1834), was a French aristocrat . ... James Madison (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was the fourth (1809–1817) President of the United States. ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The University being the first at which students could specialize in the field of Astronomy, Jefferson toyed with the idea of painting the interior of the Dome Room with images of the night sky to aid the students in their learning. He went so far as to begin designing a new mechanism with which students would be able to "float" through the air and study heavenly bodies from closer different viewpoints. They would also be equipped with a control to move the stars around the Dome. The idea was eventually abandoned but would have been the first planetarium in the United States. The Transit of Venus of 1882 was observed from the steps of the Rotunda, in a coordinated effort with McCormick Observatory. Astronomy (Greek: αστρονομία = άστρον + νόμος, astronomia = astron + nomos, literally, law of the stars) is the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the Earths atmosphere, such as stars, planets, comets, aurora, galaxies, and the cosmic background radiation. ... A planetarium is a theater built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation. ... The 2004 transit of Venus A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, obscuring a small portion of the Suns disc. ... 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Leander McCormick Observatory in 1890 The McCormick Observatory is one of the astronomical observatories operated by the Astronomy Department of the University of Virginia and is situated in Charlottesville, Virginia (USA). ...

In 1895, The Rotunda famously burnt to the ground. It was rebuilt, but with a modified design by Stanford White, a nationally known architect and head of a firm in New York City. Whereas Jefferson's Rotunda had three floors, White's had only two, but a larger Dome Room. In 1976 during America's Bicentennial, the Rotunda was restored, at a cost of $2.4 million, to Jefferson's original design. The Rotunda is the symbolic head of the Lawn and the University of Virginia. The Academical Village of which it is a part is one of only four man-made American sites to be named a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (along with the Statue of Liberty, Independence Hall, and Pueblo de Taos). 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Stanford White (1853-1906) Washington Square Arch New York American on June 25, 1906 Stanford White (November 9, 1853 – June 25, 1906) was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. ... Nickname: The Big Apple Official website: City of New York Government Counties (Boroughs) Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Geographical characteristics Area Total 468. ... 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1976 calendar). ... The United States Bicentennial was celebrated on Sunday, July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. ... Site #86: Memphis and its Necropolis, including the Pyramids of Giza (Egypt). ... UNESCO logo The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, commonly known as UNESCO, is a specialized agency of the United Nations system established in 1945. ... Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island Liberty Enlightening the World, known more commonly as the Statue of Liberty, is a statue given to the United States by France in the late 19th century, standing at Liberty Island in the mouth of the Hudson River in New York Harbor as a... Exterior view of Independence Hall (circa 1770s). ... Taos Pueblo, circa 1920 Taos Pueblo (or Pueblo de Taos), continuously inhabited for over 1000 years, is the ancient town of the Northern Tiwa speaking tribe of Pueblo people, Native Americans. ...

Today, graduate students defend their theses in the north oval room and many events are hosted on the steps of the Rotunda. It is also the traditional starting point for students streaking the Lawn. This article is about being nude in public places. ...

The Rotunda is seen as a lasting symbol of Jefferson's belief in the separation of church and education, as well as his lifelong dedication to both education and architecture.

There is a plaque, on the south side of the Rotunda, listing the names of students and graduates of The University who were killed during the War Between The States (also known as the American Civil War). Other plaques on the south side list those killed during World War I while plaques on the north side list those killed in World War II and the Korean War.

Today's view from The Lawn to The Rotunda is virtually unchanged from this 1914 image.

Image File history File links Rotunda_University_of_Virginia. ... Image File history File links Rotunda_University_of_Virginia. ... The West Lawn in snow, 1914. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

External links

• UVa's Rotunda Page
• Academical Village map
• Tales in the Rotunda's Past (includes cow on the roof)