Every year, Monticello's West Portico becomes an outdoor courtroom where dozens of individuals take the Oath of Citizenship to become Americans.

Jim Ryan

This year, President of the University of Virginia, James E. Ryan, spoke to the new citizens. The ceremony also featured a presentation of the colors from the Boy Scouts of America Troop 75, and music from the Charlottesville Band, the Charlottesville Opera, the Old Line Fife and Drum Corps, and The Oratorio Society of Virginia.


Voter registration in the partner tentCommunity Partner Tent

Meet the organizations making a difference in our community and further the dialogue on civic engagement and citizen leadership.

 Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society logo Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society
  Albemarle County Office of Equity and Inclusion
Charlottesville Opera  logo Charlottesville Opera
City of Charlottesville logo Charlottesville and Albemarle Offices of Voter Registration and Elections
 International Rescue Committee 
Highland logo James Monroe’s Highland 
LWV logo League of Women Voters of the Charlottesville Area 
DHR logo National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Albemarle Chapter
  • Jack Jouett Chapter
  • Shadwell Chapter
LWV logo  University of Virginia Karsh Institute of Democracy 
Monticello logo Monticello Departments and Projects
  • Archeology Department
  • Center for Historic Plants
  • Getting Word African American Oral History Project

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation wishes to express its genuine appreciation to:

The Scripps Independence Day Endowment, Sally and Joe Gladden, The Brent and Lindsay Halsey Family, Michie Tavern, The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau , and the Albemarle County Office of Equity & Inclusion for their generous support of our Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony.


Past July 4th Speakers and New Citizens

 


2022 Ceremony

"It just really gets you."

“I’m always in tears and get goosebumps when people give their oath. It just reminds me so much of when I became a citizen.” ~ Kay Nimax, who took part in the first Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello in 1962