Care: we are perpetual stewards of an internationally significant historic site and the histories of hundreds of people who called Monticello home. We invest as passionately in the stewardship of our constitutional democracy as we do in the preservation of our landscape and built environment. We practice this same duty of care toward our public audiences, toward the historic figures we interpret, toward the descendants of the mountaintop, and toward each other on staff. As we share the power of place, we also focus on the power of our people and their pursuits of happiness.
Civic mindedness: we share a dynamic and complex past, embracing the relevance of Jefferson’s ideals and of the lived experiences of the mountaintop to contemporary debates. As a civic institution, we seek to lower barriers to access, increase knowledge, cultivate the virtues necessary for self-government, and promote a sense of belonging among diverse audiences.
Connection: Today as in the founding era, Monticello is deeply embedded in communities in Virginia, across the United States, and around the world. We are connected to the past and the future. As we sustain and strengthen community relationships through shared experiences, we celebrate the quest for life, liberty, and happiness espoused by Jefferson and pursued by all the people of the mountaintop.
Continuous improvement: Jefferson envisioned Monticello as a site of ceaseless experimentation, building and rebuilding it over decades. People enslaved on his plantation pursued happiness against all odds and forged freedom for their descendants. Curiosity and hope for a better future continue to animate our work. We constantly evaluate and renew the history we share. We model and cultivate a growth mindset among our staff and with our visitors.
Courage: a constitutional democracy runs on truth and trust. Both require institutional courage. Carrying forward the values Jefferson espoused in our founding documents and sharing stories that explore his relationships to chattel slavery and Indigenous dispossession, Monticello models the hard work of trust-building through the rigorous search for truth. We embrace deep and genuine diversity of background, generation, and viewpoint. We profess humble conviction in the importance of our contribution.