The Hemings family remains one of the best documented enslaved families in the United States. Decades of documentary research, archaeological analysis and oral histories of Hemings descendants provide related narratives of struggle, survival, and family bonds across more than three generations.

This 1-hour, 45-minute, small-group interactive tour explores both the Main House and Mulberry Row – the industrial heart of Jefferson’s plantation - using the stories of seven members of the Hemings Family. Through their experiences, you will learn about the challenges faced by members of this large, important family at Monticello as they negotiated to maintain family ties and strove for freedom. The tour will also highlight how the Hemingses straddled the color line, defying the stark racial dividing lines imposed in American slavery. 

Not recommended for children under 12.

Included in the Hemings Family Tour:

Guided Tours

• Two-hour guided tour, including a 1^st Floor House Tour focused on the lives and experiences of the Hemings Family
• Guided Slavery at Monticello Tours (offered daily)
• Guided Gardens and Grounds Tours (mid-March—October)

State of the Art Visitor Center

• Free Parking
• 4 Exhibitions
• 15-minute film Thomas Jefferson's World
• Griffin Discovery Room
• Monticello Museum Shop

Access to

• Shopping and café
• Crossroads exhibition in lower level of the main house
• Seasonal Mountaintop Activity Center
• African American Graveyard
• Free Public WiFi

Scheduling a Hemings Family Tour

To make your reservation online, please click on the tickets icon above.

Please plan to arrive at Monticello at least 30 minutes before the time of your reservation. Please note that your ticket includes a House Tour, which will be part of your two-hour experience.

*Online discount is not available over the phone or on site in our ticket office. 

Guidelines for the Hemings Family Tour »