Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

On May 22, 1957, two famous individuals visited Monticello and signed the guestbook, which is pictured here. Can you identify the names of these famous visitors? (No cheating- we mean it this time! 👀)

We'll reveal the answer tomorrow in the comment section.

Happy ! 🌕

Thomas Jefferson had a keen interest in many fields of scientific inquiry, yet he declared astronomy “the most sublime of all sciences.” Jefferson’s copious records reflect this lifelong fascination: he bought the best observational equipment available, enjoyed calculating longitude, visited observatories, and gave rapt attention to celestial events. He even planned an observatory at the University of Virginia.

Read more about Jefferson's interest in astronomy: bit.ly/4d6qatZ 🔭

Thanks for the visit, C-ville Weekly!

Read about our Women at Monticello Tour below👇

Life, liberty, and the Women at Monticello Tour Straight out of the gate, I must acknowledge this wasn’t a fair test. Almost a decade ago (where has the time gone?), I worked at Monticello for roughly seven years. My last few roles were Mar...

We're simply buzzing about our newest signature product: Monticello Mead!

This sweet collaboration with Silver Hand Meadery features delicious honey from Monticello hives. Stop by our Museum Shop (no admission required) to pick up a bottle today!🐝 🍯

The Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is in full bloom today at Monticello. Jefferson documented this large and striking flower in September 1771, listing it as one of the “Hardy Perennial flowers” grown on the mountaintop.

Why not add it to your garden? Shop seeds now: bit.ly/4bTvfom

📸: View from the Granddaughters' Room at Monticello.

Thomas Jefferson’s granddaughters, particularly Cornelia, Virginia, and Ellen Randolph, occupied this room at various times during his retirement years. It is directly above Jefferson’s office and Ellen Randolph later wrote of hearing her grandfather at work, “humming old tunes, generally Scotch songs but sometimes Italian airs or hymns.”

See this room on a Behind-the-Scenes Tour of Monticello: bit.ly/3LnYIMj

In our latest podcast episode, historians from Monticello's Getting Word African American Oral History Project share the recent rediscovery of Robert Hemmings’s signature, a revelation confirming the literacy and the agency of the man that Thomas Jefferson enslaved as his valet.

Listen as Andrew Davenport, Auriana Woods, and Bernetiae Reed discuss this discovery and describe the life of Robert Hemmings whose story inspired “Descendants of Monticello,” a new exhibition that recently opened at Independence National Historical Park's Declaration House in Philadelphia, PA.

Listen now at monticello.org/RobertHemmings.

Summertime views from the mountaintop. ☀️

Come see it for yourself! Plan your trip at monticello.org/visit.

The best view of Monticello is through the lens of our expert photographer, Ian Atkins. 📸

Atkins' breathtaking art is available for purchase from Monticello Shop's collection, "Monticello’s Photographer Series."

Choose from a series of signed and number prints, a Monticello 2025 calendar, and a notecard set that picture iconic scenes of Monticello in all seasons.

Visit our museum shop or bit.ly/3Q7gsyn to shop today!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Come take our Women at Monticello Tour!

You'll learn about the experiences of women, both enslaved and free, who lived and labored at Monticello. This tour also includes the stories of women who shaped the early history of the United States and those who played key roles in preserving Monticello.

Reserve your tickets today: bit.ly/4cWfga8

On this day in history, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited Monticello. Can you guess which year this took place? (No cheating! 👀 )

We'll reveal the answer tomorrow in the comment section.

📸: The Cabinet at ✨golden hour.✨

This room at Monticello was Thomas Jefferson's office space. It was where he read, worked, and kept up with his extensive correspondence. Indeed, he received 1,267 letters in 1820 alone! 👀

Plan to see this room at monticello.org/visit!

Beat the heat this weekend with a refreshing glass of wine at Monticello's Jefferson Vineyards!🍾

Located just minutes away from the mountaintop, Jefferson Vineyards offers award-winning wines, delicious food, and stunning views!🍷

Learn more at monticello.org/wine.

Monticello's Dome Room on a sunny day. ☀️

See it on a Behind-the-Scenes Tour: bit.ly/3xRfksD

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the mountaintop this year to celebrate the 248th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the naturalization of 74 new American citizens! 🇺🇸

A special shoutout to all staff, volunteers, community partners, and many others who made this day a tremendous success.

Watch the livestream at monticello.org/July4 and plan to join us for next year’s ceremony on July 4th, 2025!💫

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Below is a photograph from our archives showing the July 4th naturalization ceremony and presentations on July 4th, 1969. Can you spot the difference between that day's setup and today's? (Scroll down for the answer!)
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In decades past, Monticello has actually held its July 4th ceremonies on the EAST lawn, not the West Lawn! One giveaway is that Monticello's famous dome is not visible from this side (at least from this angle).

Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

Join us this morning at 9:00 a.m. ET as we livestream Monticello’s 62nd annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony.

Watch as we welcome more than 70 new citizens and hear keynote remarks from ballerina, author, and philanthropist Misty Copeland!

Visit monticello.org/july4 to tune in!

🎆 July 4th celebrates our country’s history, but it can also spark conversations about what’s next. But spirited debate is part of our story, so how can we find common ground? A good meal.

Not sure how to start a meaningful conversation? We’ve got you covered. In this Fourth of July conversation guide, we have questions from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello Feast of Reason card game (now online, thanks to New American History!) and The Family Dinner Project's great conversation starters. With a little recipe help from Challah Back Girls, you’re ready to make this Fourth of July celebratory and thoughtful.

While may be coming to an end, meaningful conversation about our future can happen anytime, anywhere. So start a conversation in your community!

Start now by checking out the NEW online version of Feast of Reason: bit.ly/3RP7K8Y

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’”
—Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963

The immortal words penned by Thomas Jefferson in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence became our nation’s mission statement. Today, in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, read more about the many people and events that have drawn inspiration from the Declaration: bit.ly/4cmtvoT

Independence Day is nearly here! 🇺🇸 🎉

Join us on the mountaintop for our annual July 4th celebration and naturalization ceremony (more than 70 people will take the Oath of Citizenship!) featuring keynote remarks from ballerina, author, and philanthropist Misty Copeland.

Book signing with Ms. Copeland to follow shortly after the ceremony!

Register to attend this free event at monticello.org/july4.

Civic season is an annual occasion that aims to connect young Americans with our country’s history and encourage action in the present, but for educators, this effort is year-round! 🇺🇸📝

We at Monticello understand the important impact that educators make on informing and inspiring the next generation of citizens. Because of this, we offer a variety of resources to support educators and their students.

Discover Monticello's "For Educators" page, which includes information about online and onsite learning experiences, scholarships, professional development opportunities, and more: bit.ly/4cJPZQh

Teach Monticello

Welcome back to Monticello, George! 🐴

George visited the Mountaintop Activity Center to try out a number of exciting hands-on activities! Check out his favorites:

🪶📜 Writing with a Quill Pen
In honor of the upcoming 248th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, George tried his hand at writing a message with ink!

📸 Using historic games and technology
George sat in front of a Camera Obscura, a device used for drawing and making silhouettes.

🌎🌑☀️ Learning about astronomy
In addition to history, George loves science! George was able to see a heliocentric model of the solar system and discover the positions of the earth and moon at different times of the year!

In case you missed his other adventures, George is traveling through the state on a ! Check out his other stops and embark on your own Virginia history adventure at vahistoryroadtrip.com.

Looking for a powerful way to get inspired this ? Here's our suggestion: discover the stories of civic leaders from history.🗣️

Take for example, William Monroe Trotter, one of the most influential descendants of Monticello’s enslaved community—and someone who too many people have never heard of.

In an episode of our "In the Course of Human Events" podcast series, we discuss Trotter’s life, legacy, and determined (but ultimately unsuccessful) effort to stop the release of the notoriously racist 1915 film “Birth of a Nation.”

Listen now: bit.ly/3xztheT

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, 1776: A fair copy of the committee draft of the Declaration of Independence was read in Congress. Congress then debated and revised the document.

Read a transcript of the Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence: bit.ly/4cFZ50w

📷: "The Declaration of Independence" by John Trumbull; image courtesy of Architect of the Capitol

Making physical copies of the Declaration was crucial to spreading its ideas throughout the colonies and around the World. The techniques used varied and evolved over time, leading to different renditions of the original document.

One example is the 1823 Stone Declaration, which is on display at the Visitor Center this summer. Don't miss it during your next visit!

Learn more: bit.ly/4bogrxP

Monticello's Annual Pass is your ticket to explore the historic mountaintop year-round. 🌷☀️🍂❄️

This pass includes unlimited general admission to Monticello, selecting from a Highlights Tour, Self-Guided Tour, or Gardens and Grounds Pass every time you visit. You'll also receive a 20% discount at our in-person Monticello Shop locations and our Farm Table café!

Learn more: bit.ly/3vBHYfQ