FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 2, 2017
Media Contact: Mia Magruder
John W. FranklinCHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—This February, Monticello will mark Black History Month with a variety of programs and tours, including two brand-new events. The new additions are community-focused and build on broader efforts to share the complete story of Monticello’s enslaved community throughout the year.
On Saturday, February 4th, guests can hear an insider’s view on the Smithsonian’s new National Museum of African American History and Culture from John W. Franklin, Senior Manager of the NMAAHC’s Office of External Affairs. The free talk will be held in the Milstein Theater at Monticello’s David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center; registration is recommended. Due to high demand for this program, Monticello will also stream the event live online.
On Saturday, February 11th, fans of Antiques Roadshow and amateur genealogy enthusiasts can enjoy another free program: “Memories Matter: Saving Family Heirlooms.” Guests can meet preservation experts and learn to properly store and care for their family heirlooms. The event is jointly sponsored by and held at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
“Monticello’s Black History Month programming reflects our ongoing commitment to sharing the stories of the enslaved families who lived and labored on the plantation,” said Leslie Greene Bowman, president and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello. “We are delighted to be working with partners like the Jefferson School and the Smithsonian to bring history forward.”
For a full listing of Monticello’s Black History Month programs, visit monticello.org/blackhistorymonth.
About The Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, the foundation seeks to engage a national and global audience in a dialogue with Jefferson’s ideas. Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark and a United Nations World Heritage Site. As a private, nonprofit organization, the foundation’s regular operating budget does not receive ongoing government support to fund its twofold mission of preservation and education. About 440,000 people visit Monticello each year.
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