Theodor (Dr. Seuss) Geisel, Charlottesville VA & Horton Hears a Who!

Horton Hears a Who! opens in movie theaters today, but there may be more to the who Horton hears story, than you ever imagined...

Charlottesville, Virginia is best known for the University of Viriginia that was founded by our third president, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's mountain-top home, Monticello, and the Foxfield Races! (Yes, people do know Charlottesville for that crazy horse race!) As far as Monticello, it is also in Albemarle County and it attracts thousands of tourists every year. The famous author, Edgar Allen Poe, also attended the University of Virginia and his room on the Lawn at the University of Virginia is always on display.

Rumor also has it that Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to all as Dr. Seuss, applied three times to the University of Virginia. Three times he was denied entrance. That last day, he vowed to one day look down on the University. He began writing childrens' novels such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. As his fame grew, so did his fortune!

It is said, that prior to writing How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss purchased a large, stately home high up on the mountain looking down on the University of Virginia. Today you can see the home back behind the Rotunda up on the hill. He bought the home so he could always "look down" on the University.

Have we forgotten the part in the Grinch that references all of the little Hoos in Hooville? That "Hooville" is said to be the University of Virginia. UVA's mascot is the Cavalier, but for those that live there, they are also the HOOS (Wahoos).