Waiting on Liberty: Slavery in Jefferson’s “Great House”

This two-hour experience offers an in-depth look at the enslaved African Americans who worked in Thomas Jefferson’s “Great House.” You’ll have the opportunity to sift through some of the evidence historians use to learn about enslaved individuals and to examine artifacts and historical documents that help answer the question, “Who was Sally Hemings?” You’ll visit select rooms in the house and be invited to consider how the rooms would have been seen from the differing perspectives of the white occupants and the African American slaves who served them. Throughout the experience you’ll be encouraged to share your own experiences and thoughts with your guide and fellow visitors as your group engages in a discussion about the significance today—and the enduring paradox—of slavery at Monticello.