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Monticello Moments

Celebrating the Declaration over 250 years

  • Indoor
  • Included with Admission
  • Complimentary parking

How has a nation marked its own birthday over the last 200 years?

Location: Howard and Abby Milstein Theater
As one of TIME's contributions to the Bicentennial celebration," wrote editor Henry Grunwald, "we began over a year ago to plan an issue devoted to the news in those sultry first days of July 1776, written and edited more or less as it would have been if TIME had existed in those days." The issue featured profiles of Jefferson and Washington, articles about loyalists and spies, and even Revolutionary-themed advertisements from companies like Sears and Pillsbury.

About the Program

Learn how Americans across the country marked milestone anniversaries of the Declaration of Independence in the years 1826, 1876, 1926 and 1976. Join staff from Monticello's Jefferson Library as we discuss this topic with items drawn from the Thomas Jefferson Foundation archives.

"Jefferson’s Gig" on West Lawn of Monticello

This 1802 phaeton seat, once part of a four-wheeled conveyance owned by Jefferson, was acquired by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation in 1923. Escorted by "private and public automobile parties...from all parts of the country," the "gig" traveled from Monticello, stopping at Washington, and arrived in Philadelphia on June 28, 1926 in time for the "Echo of the Liberty Bell" demonstration at 11:11 A.M

This 1802 phaeton seat, once part of a four-wheeled conveyance owned by Jefferson, was acquired by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation in 1923. Escorted by "private and public automobile parties...from all parts of the country," the "gig" traveled from Monticello, stopping at Washington, and arrived in Philadelphia on June 28, 1926 in time for the "Echo of the Liberty Bell" demonstration at 11:11 A.M

Monticello gratefully acknowledges the partnership of More Perfect in our 250th anniversary initiatives.

Monticello Moments

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