Completed in 2005, the Palmer Woodland Theater is an outdoor classroom sited in a majestic stand of centuries-old white oak trees along the Saunders-Monticello Trail. The theater is built around a circular, masonry stage, and is organized into a series of ter-races with rustic benches pro-viding seating for up to forty-eight people. Designed by the architects of the parkway itself, Rieley & Associates, the Palmer Woodland Theater will provide a venue for Monticello's educational programs, such as the Saturdays in the Garden series of natural history walks and workshops.

The Woodland Theater was named in honor of George C. Palmer, a twenty-six year member of the Board of Trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. He also served as President of the Perry Foundation, which, through a generous challenge grant, made the construction of the Palmer Woodland Theater possible. Other financial supporters included the Charlottesville Garden Club and Mrs. George C. Palmer.