Learn about Thomas Jefferson
Videos and Podcasts
Learn more about Thomas Jefferson's life, career, and legacy in this gallery of recorded livestreams, podcasts, and videos.
Experience Monticello
This February
Drafting the Declaration
Join Thomas Jefferson, portrayed by historical interpreter Bill Barker, as he takes you back to the turbulent times of America’s founding.
Latest Issue Online!
Monticello Magazine
In this issue: Jefferson's eye for detail, Franklin and Jefferson, and more.
New Digital Resource
The Art of Citizenship
This project explores the modern-day relevance of Thomas Jefferson's ideas about the American experiment in self-government and illustrates the enduring challenges and opportunities faced by every generation of Americans.
An emotional experience
The Life of Sally Hemings exhibit
One of the most famous African American women in U.S. history . . . and one of the least known.
Iconic images and breathtaking vistas
The Best Views at Monticello
From the "nickel view" of the main house to Jefferson's favorite outdoor reading spot.
Virtual Exhibition
The Paradox of Liberty
Explore the paradox of the American Revolution—the fight for liberty in an era of pervasive slavery—through the lens of Monticello and its inhabitants.
Livestream, Feb 7, 1:00 p.m. ET
The Getting Word African American Oral History Project
Join us for a rebroadcast of a talk with Public Historian and Manager of the Getting Word project Andrew Davenport and Getting Word Project Assistant Jenna Owens.
What's Happening
Visiting Jefferson’s house and the Monticello grounds engages the senses, stimulates the mind and provides a rewarding experience for all ages and interests.
This Season
Winter on the Mountain
There are several ways to explore Monticello this winter. Check out our offerings and make your plans to join us on the mountaintop.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Thomas Jefferson
Get to know Thomas Jefferson—author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, third president of the United States, and founder of the University of Virginia.
An Architectural Icon
The House and Gardens
Monticello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson—designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years. Its gardens were a botanic showpiece, a source of food, and an experimental laboratory of ornamental and useful plants from around the world.
Quoting Thomas Jefferson
Real or imagined? Find a Jefferson Quote Here
Thomas Jefferson is one of the most frequently quoted (and misquoted) figures in American history. Search this extensive collection of quotes by and about Thomas Jefferson—all fully verified and cited by the editors of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series.
Slavery at Monticello
Thomas Jefferson enslaved over six hundred people throughout his life. Learn about the men, women, and children who built Jefferson's home, planted his crops, tended his gardens, and who helped run his household and raise his children.