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From The President
A bi-annual update from the President of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello as featured in the Monticello Magazine
Stories
A collection stories, posts, updates, and new videos about Thomas Jefferson, his world, and his legacies by Monticello, its staff, and invited researchers.
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![Jane Kamensky poses for a headshot in the Monticello Parlor, wearing a collared shirt with dark green print and an antique piano, mirror, and paintings in the background.]()
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![Allegorical painting of the goddess Liberty holding cup to an eagle while an American flag flies in the background and the broken trappings of monarcy lie at her feet.]()
StoryLoquacious about Liberty
Throughout his life, Jefferson reflected on his concept of liberty as an unalienable right.
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![Painting depicting Jefferson and the Committee of Five presenting the Declaration to the Continental Congress]()
StorySaluting Signers
A selection of Jefferson's comments on members of the Continental Congress who played key roles during the struggle for American independence.
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![Side-by-side images of a white bust of John Adams and a terracotta-colored bust of Thomas Jefferson.]()
StoryFarewells to Founders
The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4th, 1826, unified the nation in mourning the loss of these two founders. We've compiled a selection of primary source eulogies and remembrances for Adams and Jefferson from the 50th year of American Independence.
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![Declaration of Independence, engraved by William J. Stone]()
StoryAfter the Birthday Cake: Baking a 15-Year Arc of Civic Renewal
The Declaration's 250th anniversary opens a 15-year civic window. Thomas Jefferson's Monticello President Jane Kamensky and Made By Us Executive Director Caroline Klibanoff discuss why we must use it to build knowledge, skills, and character for the next generation of citizens.
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![A toddler in a white shirt sits on an adult's shoulders and holds up a small American flag while a crowd of people sit at a July 4 naturalization ceremony at Monticello.]()
StoryFour Quotes on Celebrating the Fourth
Read Jefferson's thoughts on celebrating Independence Day.
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![The first page of Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of the Declaration of Independence.]()
StoryDeclarations about the Declaration
The meaning and promise of the Declaration of Independence has been a topic of discussion since 1776.
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Story“I cannot live without books.”
Endrina Tay, Fiske and Marie Kimball Librarian, explores Thomas Jefferson's decision to sell his beloved personal library to the Library of Congress.
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![A family of four is taking a photo on the West Lawn of Monticello with the house in the background.]()
StoryTips for Families
Perched atop a Virginia mountain, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is more than a historic house — it's a place where American history comes alive in ways that genuinely surprise people, young and old.
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![A person holding Thomas Jefferson's tiny notebook in their gloved hand.]()
StoryThomas Jefferson: A History in Lists
Evan Friss, 2026 Spring Cohort Fellow at Monticello’s International Center for Jefferson Studies, reflects on Jefferson's tiny ivory notebook—and finds in its meticulous lists of gooseberries, market days, and slippers a window into the mind of history's most compulsive record-keeper.
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![Image of Spring fellows MaKshya Tolbert, Tony Boll, Evan Friss, and Kori Price. Photo by Aleen Carey.]()
StoryBuilding Fellowship: Inside Monticello's Scholar Community
Nicole Brown, a historian at Monticello’s International Center for Jefferson Studies, shares how a reimagined fellowship program is cultivating the next generation of scholars—blending independent research with a rich, collaborative community of experts.
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Story5 New Features to Try on the New Monticello.org Website
Whether you’re planning your 2026 visit or diving into the history of America’s founding, check out these five new features in the latest version of Monticello’s website.
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StoryUnder Construction: How Monticello Makes Exhibitions
A look at how Monticello's cross-departmental team created three new Gallery Pavilion exhibitions — including a redesigned "Griffin Discovery Room".
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![Stylized graphic of Monticello and surrounding grounds in shades of blue with the words "CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN/Discover America" in the top middle.]()
StoryClimb the Mountain, Discover America: Monticello’s Next Chapter
Dr. Jane Kamensky, President & CEO, Thomas Jefferson Foundation, discusses Monticello's new strategic plan: “Climb the Mountain, Discover America.”
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Story2025 Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello with Ken Burns
On July 4, 2025, Monticello marked the 249th anniversary of the country with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns as our keynote speaker.
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![Side by side images of the West Front of Monticello with a podium and American and Virginia flags on the left and a portrait of Bryan Stevenson on the right.]()
Story2025 Founders Day Celebration at Monticello
Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, gives the keynote speech at Monticello's annual Founders Day event.
