Forest in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Poplar Forest

Photographed by Stephen Escalera

1. Poplar Forest Marker

Inscription. Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson's Bedford County retreat house and plantation, is 1.5 miles south of here. Jefferson’s wife, Martha Wayles Skelton, inherited the property in 1773, and Jefferson called it “the most valuable of my possessions.” He wrote much of his book Notes on the State of Virginia here in 1781. More than 200 enslaved African Americans labored on the plantation during his ownership, raising tobacco and wheat. In 1806 free and enslaved craftsmen began constructing an octagonal house and ornamental landscape designed by Jefferson. He visited the house several times a year from 1809 to 1823 and owned the property until his death in 1826.

Erected 2017 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number K-138.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places.

Location. 37° 21.975′ N, 79° 15.66′ W. Marker is in Forest, Virginia, in Bedford County. It is on Forest Road (U.S. 221) just west of Newcomb Boulevard, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16890 Forest Rd, Forest VA

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24551, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "A Culture Productive of Infinite Wretchedness” (approx. 1.3 miles away); Transforming a Plantation into a Private Retreat, 1806—1826 (approx. 1.3 miles away); Plantation Worker Housing (approx. 1.3 miles away); Poplar Forest Planting Memorandum 1812 (approx. 1.3 miles away); Mounds Made of Ideas and Sweat (approx. 1.3 miles away); “I have this summer built a wing of offices...” (approx. 1.3 miles away); Crafting a Masterpiece, Longing for Home (approx. 1.3 miles away); St. Stephen's Church (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all

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markers in Forest.

Other markers no longer nearby. How was the landscape partitioned? (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Commemorating Lewis and Clark (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Why build the mounds? (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Why is the lawn sunken? (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); What happened to Poplar Forest after Jefferson's death? (was approx. 1.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photo 1. submitted on September 8, 2026, by Stephen Escalera of Roanoke, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.