| For | Pricing | When |
|---|---|---|
| All Guests |
$150
Once daily, Wed. - Sat. between Mar. 18 and Jul. 31, 2026
|
Once daily, Wed. - Sat. between Mar. 18 and Jul. 31, 2026
|
| Buy Tickets | ||
Mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a special guided theatrical experience inside the Monticello house featuring Thomas Jefferson, as interpreted by veteran historical interpreter, Bill Barker.
This immersive program invites you to reflect on the Declaration, its creation, and the transformative ideas that shaped a new nation. Encounter Jefferson as he contemplates the legacy and ideals of the American Revolution while a member of Monticello's expert guide staff offers insights into the trials and triumphs of early Americans as they created the United States.
An opportunity for photographs with Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson will follow each tour.
Offered only in 2026, don’t miss this unique opportunity to honor America’s founding in the very place where Jefferson dreamed of liberty and independence.
Meet Bill Barker
Veteran historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker is widely recognized as the nation’s foremost interpreter of Thomas Jefferson. After portraying Thomas Jefferson at Colonial Williamsburg for 26 years, Barker joined the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello in 2019. Barker began interpreting Jefferson in 1984 — fittingly, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Combining the tools of theater with rigorous historical scholarship, his approach explores Jefferson’s life and times, and how it relates to our world today.
Barker has performed as Jefferson around the country and around the world, at sites including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Palace of Versailles, and more. He has been featured as Jefferson in numerous publications including TIME, People, and Southern Living, and has appeared as Jefferson on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN and Comedy Central’s Colbert Report. Monticello guests encounter Barker as Mr. Jefferson in regularly-scheduled programming at Monticello. He also contributes to educational outreach efforts, including electronic field trips and livestream programs, and represents Monticello at special events around the country.