You make our work possible. Please help us continue.

Donate Now

In 1805, a delegation of 27 indigenous people accepted an invitation from the Corps of Discovery to travel to Washington, DC to meet with President Thomas Jefferson. A few members of this group continued on to Philadelphia where their silhouettes were made at the Peale Museum by Moses Williams—we highlighted Williams’ work in our podcast episode “Freedom, 8 Cents at a Time” this past July. Four of those silhouettes were given to Jefferson and are now on display in the library at Monticello. Learn more in this video, courtesy of Monticello Guide Laura-Michal Balderson.