Monticello Moments
Join us each month for stories uncovered through Monticello's research departments.
Step behind the scenes at Monticello and hear directly from the people shaping what we know about this place today.
Each month, a different Monticello research department takes the spotlight, sharing fresh insights, intriguing questions, and recent discoveries drawn from their ongoing work. You might explore how archaeologists read the landscape for clues left behind, how curators interpret objects that once filled Jefferson’s world, or how historians’ piece together stories from our past.
Informal and conversational, these 30-minute talks are a chance to connect the objects, landscapes, and stories you see at Monticello with the research – and people – who bring them to life.
Included with admission and offered monthly. Check out upcoming sessions below, or find times on the Today at Monticello page.
Upcoming Events
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![Portable writing desk, used by Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. PL*031819.]()
Anniversaries and Relics: Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence in 1825
Join Monticello staff in the visitor center for a special talk about Jefferson's account of writing the Declaration and what happened to the writing desk that he used. -
![A reconstructed porcelain plate, pieced together from multiple fragments, that was found during excavations at Building o on Mulberry Row. The plate has a pale blue background and dark blue, hand-painted floral designs.]()
Chinese Porcelain Plates with Archeology
Join Corey Sattes, Monticello's Curator of Archaeological Collections, to discover more about the Chinese porcelain plates excavated from the "Building o" archaeological site on Mulberry Row. -
![A family walking on the grounds of Monticello]()
Fall Saturdays
Enjoy the sights, flavors, and fun of fall at Monticello with seasonal tastings, hands-on activities for kids, community partner showcases, pop-up shopping, and performances by Thomas Jefferson. -
![A family walking on the grounds of Monticello]()
Fall Saturdays
Enjoy the sights, flavors, and fun of fall at Monticello with seasonal tastings, hands-on activities for kids, community partner showcases, pop-up shopping, and performances by Thomas Jefferson. -
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Virginia Archaeology Month Open House
Join us as Monticello’s Archaeology Department hosts its annual open house, featuring displays, exhibits on recent discoveries, engaging activities for all ages, and walking tours.
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![A silver boot-shaped vessel (sometimes compared to a duck in shape) with bead-pattern rim and a delicate curving handle.]()
Gallery Talks
Join Monticello's curators for a behind-the scenes look at some of the amazing objects in our collection. Hear stories about Jefferson and his family members, find out how we know what we know, and connect with history in a unique way.Past Event
