News Releases

Monticello is pleased to announce the selection of Edward L. Ayers as the 2026 Fritz and Claudine Kundrun Fellow at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the private, nonprofit organization that owns and operates Monticello, has received a lead $1 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to strengthen civic learning and engagement through museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions across the United States.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation announce the launch of a new initiative: Declaration Book Club. Created with support from More Perfect, this engaging three-part reading and discussion tool kit is designed for learners of all ages to delve into the enduring principles of the Declaration of Independence and their relevance today.

Food Network star Chef Marc Murphy to headline inaugural programming on June 26 and 27

Opportunities to participate at Monticello, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond, and South Street Brewery in downtown Charlottesville

Special preview of Burns’s upcoming documentary, The American Revolution, and panel discussion at Piedmont Virginia Community College on July 3

New tour will explore the friendship and conflict between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams that shaped our nation’s founding.

This summer, Monticello will host its largest ever Civic Season, the nationwide initiative started by Made By Us to engage individuals in a deeper understanding of constitutional democracy, historical preservation, and civic responsibility between Juneteenth and Independence Day.

On April 11, the University of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello will present their highest honors, the 2025 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals, to a trio of national luminaries in the areas of Architecture, Citizen Leadership, and Law.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the private, nonprofit organization that owns and operates Monticello, announced new leadership for its Board of Trustees as of January 2025. Molly Hardie was named chair of the board, and Michelynn Woodard as vice chair. Monticello also welcomed five new trustees from across the nation.

Monticello is pleased to announce three appointments to the organization’s leadership team: Laura Nichols as Vice President for External Relations, Alexandra Early Carter as Chief Development Officer, and Dr. Andrew M. Davenport as the Vice President for Research and Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies.

The National Science Foundation and The Conservation Fund have awarded a combined total of $354,000 to Monticello’s Digital Archaeological Archive of Comparative Slavery (DAACS).

Ballerina, author, and philanthropist Misty Copeland will be the keynote speaker during the 2024 Naturalization Ceremony on July 4.

On April 12, the University of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello will present their highest honors, the 2024 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals, to a trio of national luminaries in the areas of Architecture, Citizen Leadership, and Law.

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello announced the launch of a new, limited-time Revolutionary Women at Monticello Tour, which will invite visitors to explore the house and grounds through the eyes of women, both free and enslaved, who shaped the lives of so many at Monticello and beyond.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the private nonprofit organization that owns and operates Monticello, welcomed two new trustees to its Board: Dr. Danielle Allen of Harvard University and the Honorable J. Michael Luttig, former United States Court of Appeals Judge for the Fourth Circuit.

Castle Hill Cider is pleased to announce its second release of Orchard Select, a special hard cider made in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Jane Kamensky, Ph.D., as the new President at Monticello. Kamensky will assume her new role on January 15, 2024.

On April 13, the University of Virginia and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello will present their highest honors, the 2023 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals, to a trio of national and international luminaries in the areas of Architecture, Citizen Leadership and Law.