Join us for a virtual conversation with three descendants of Monticello’s enslaved community: historian Andrew M. Davenport, artist Jabari C. Jefferson, and activist Myra Anderson on February 20 at 2:00 p.m. EST. Free and open to the public.

From St.Croix to Charlottesville, slavery has left its mark on the Americas, and archeologists are working to connect the dots. The Society of Black Archeologists and the Digital Archive of Comparative Slavery (DAACS) are involved in the collaboration and comparative research between these two historic sites. Join us on February 23rd at 1pm EDT for a live panel discussion with the experts and ask them your questions about this interconnected history.

Watch the recorded Q&A session from Feb 2 with Thomas Jefferson, interpreted by Bill Barker, and Jupiter (whose surname may have been Evans), interpreted by Colonial Williamsburg’s Jamar Jones. These two veteran interpreters discuss the relationship between Jefferson and Jupiter in character, and share insights into the challenges that first-person interpreters face when sharing difficult history.

Watch the recorded Q&A session from Feb 9 with Richard M. Josey. Mr. Josey will discuss his years as a first-person interpreter, the lessons he learned, and how he now shares those lessons as a consultant for museums and historical organizations.

Music was an important part of life for enslaved people at plantations across the U.S. Monticello guide and musicologist Kyle Chattleton looks at the ways enslaved people here and across the nation used music and at the foundational role they played in creating a distinctly American musical tradition.

Monticello guide Kyle Chattleton looks at the close relationship of Monticello's enslaved joiner John Hemmings and his wife, Priscilla, an enslaved domestic servant owned by Jefferson's son-in-law.

Monticello historian Niya Bates describes the Getting Word African American Oral History Project and how it has helped transform interpretive experience at Monticello since its inception in 1993.

Enslaved people did not simply accept the confines of their bondage, and resistance took many forms. An example is found in the story of York, a young man enslaved at Monticello who attempted to escape in 1798.

At these outdoor stations, guests can gather comfortably in physically distanced seating areas to engage with Monticello’s friendly and knowledgeable staff. The format is a brief presentation followed by Q&A and is a great opportunity for guests to deepen their connection to Monticello’s history. Included in the ticket price. Weekdays in February: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.