Jefferson and the Early Diplomatic Corps
The recent controversy over release of U.S. diplomatic cables via Wikileaks got us thinking about how Jefferson, the U.S.'s first Secretary of State under the Constitution, and his successors communicated with their ambassadors and consuls abroad.
"Ice-creams were produced"
Ice cream frequently appears in visitors' accounts of meals with Thomas Jefferson. One visitor commented: "Among other things, ice-creams were produced in the form of balls of the frozen material inclosed in covers of warm pastry, exhibiting a curious contrast, as if the ice had just been taken from the oven."
A hands-on activity center for children
Monticello visitors—especially those ages 6 to 12—can literally get in touch with American history in the Griffin Discovery Room through hands-on activities.
These special guided tours of Thomas Jefferson's house are designed especially for families with children ages 6 to 11. The 35-minute tours feature hands-on opportunities in every room and provide a glimpse of what life was like for the children who lived at Monticello in the late 1700s and early 1800s.
These small-group house tours, which include the Dome Room, offer visitors an intimate look at how the holidays were celebrated in Jefferson's time, plus the rare opportunity to experience Monticello after dark. Tours begin at 5:30 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on each date. $45; reserved tickets are required.
