University of Virginia Library

Gymnasium

One alteration, or evolution, of the original design did take place, however, apparently back
in the second half of 1823 when Jefferson experienced his severe illness. As Martha
Jefferson Randolph described it to her daughter Virginia's husband Nicholas P. W. Trist in an
early April letter, the plan for the Rotunda now included a "Gymnasium under cover, under
which the young men may exercise in bad weather protected equally from the sun & the rain
and the manual exercise will be a regular branch of their education. this last improvement,
the Gymnasium, occurred to my Father during a fever that confined him upon the sopha. he
immediately sent for Mr Brockenbrough and gave him every direction onto the plan when
he was actually so weak that he could not sit up to draw it him self. if you recollect the place
you may remember that the North end of the lawn is closed by a large rotunda with 2 wide
terrace, extending on each side to the ranges of buildings, the Pavillions & dormitories.
under these terrace, arched on both sides and containing a space of 80 feet in length & 30
wide is the gymnasium." Housejoiner and architect John Neilson actually drew the north
elevation for the structure, which was incorporated in the construction during the spring.[611]