There are two major reasons for microscopically analyzing paints on historic buildings today. First, knowing the number, the color, and the types of coatings on architectural elements can reveal vital information about the sequence of additions and alterations. Second, analyses using the stereomicroscope and the polarized light microscope are used to identify the original colors and composition of paint films for purposes of authentic restoration. At Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, Virginia, the author analyzed historic architectural paints with both these purposes in mind. Participation in the analysis of the Dome Room, familiar to most Americans because of its representation on the reverse side of the nickel, enabled the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation to restore and repaint the room according to Jefferson's original architectural and painting schemes.