Inside the $17M estate where Thomas Jefferson spent his childhood

Long before he penned the Declaration of Independence or designed his palatial home Monticello, Thomas Jefferson was just a little boy learning his ABCs in a tiny wooden schoolhouse built by his father.

Now, nearly 300 years later, the extraordinary Virginia estate where America's third president spent his earliest childhood has hit the market for a staggering $17 million -  offering one lucky buyer the chance to own one of the country's most remarkable pieces of living history.

Known as Historic Tuckahoe, the sprawling 557-acre estate sits along the James River just outside Richmond and has been listed for sale for the first time in almost a century.

The property is where Jefferson moved as a two-year-old in 1745, after his parents, Peter and Jane Jefferson, became guardians of the orphaned Randolph children who owned the plantation.

He would spend the next seven years there, receiving his very first formal education inside a one-room schoolhouse that still stands today.

Jefferson spent formative years on Virginia estate 

'Tuckahoe, the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson, represents a significant and enduring piece of both American and Virginia history,' said J Murdoch Matheson of Frank Hardy Sotheby's International Realty, who is marketing the property.

'Jefferson lived here from 1745 to 1752, during which time his father managed the estate, placing him within one of Virginia's early plantation landscapes at a formative stage of his life.'

Matheson said one of the estate's most extraordinary surviving features is the original schoolhouse built by Jefferson's father.

'The property still features the original one-room schoolhouse constructed by Peter Jefferson for the education of the Randolph and Jefferson children,' he said.

'It is here that a young Thomas Jefferson received his earliest formal education, in a space featuring a unique domed ceiling that represents the future architect's very first encounter with a classical dome.'

The asking price reflects the rarity of the estate.

$17M sale could set local record

Historic Tuckahoe has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Although local tax authorities value the property at just over $13.2 million, the $17 million price tag would set a new record for the area if achieved.

The sale comes on behalf of the Thompson family, who have owned and carefully preserved the estate since purchasing it in 1935.

The magnificent five-bedroom colonial mansion predates the United States itself.

Matheson explained that the distinctive H-shaped manor house was built in two stages by wealthy colonial planter William Randolph III.

'Constructed by William Randolph, the unique H-frame main house was built in two separate stages, with the north end constructed first in 1733, and the center hall and south wing added by about 1740,' he said.

'It stands today as the only surviving Randolph home still located on its original site.'

The mansion offers around 6,500sq ft of living space with five bedrooms and six bathrooms, while retaining much of its original 18th-century craftsmanship.

Mansion retains centuries-old interiors 

Inside are period windows, ornate woodwork, grand fireplaces and a striking black walnut-paneled salon that has remained largely untouched for centuries.

Jefferson's connection to Tuckahoe began after tragedy struck the Randolph family.

Following the deaths of William Randolph III and his wife within a year of each other, Jefferson's parents were appointed guardians of their young children.

The Jefferson family temporarily relocated from their own plantation at Shadwell near Charlottesville, bringing toddler Thomas with them.

Although the family returned home once the Randolph heir came of age, Jefferson is believed to have remained connected to Tuckahoe throughout his life.

Beyond its presidential pedigree, the estate offers one of the most complete surviving colonial plantation complexes in North America.

A remarkable row of original outbuildings known as Plantation Street includes the original kitchen, smokehouse, storehouse, barn, overseer's office and quarters once occupied by enslaved workers.

Enslaved workers sustained Tuckahoe plantation 

Like many Virginia plantations of its era, Tuckahoe depended upon the labor of enslaved people who cultivated tobacco and other crops across the property. 

Several of the surviving buildings help tell that complex and difficult history today.

The estate also includes formal gardens, mature trees, sweeping river views and hundreds of acres protected by conservation easements designed to preserve its historic character.

The Thompson family said deciding to sell after nearly a century of ownership was emotional.

'It has been a privilege for our family to serve as the stewards of Tuckahoe for nearly a century,' the family said in a statement.

'As we consider the property's next chapter, we are open to welcoming new owners who share our deep appreciation for its unique character and history.'

Matheson said finding the right steward for the property remains the family's priority.

'It's a big event to put something like this on the market, and they want the best for the property,' he said.

'The family's been considering it for some time. They've gotten together on it to make the decision to do this, and it's a meaningful thing.'

While future owners will enjoy one of America's most historically significant private homes, preservation agreements held by Virginia's Board of Historic Resources and the National Trust for Historic Preservation will ensure Tuckahoe's remarkable story continues to be protected for generations to come.

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