Project Description

Located in an area Jefferson called the "Grove," the site centers on a 60-foot long steel structure pierced with the names of the 607 men, women, and children known to have been enslaved by Jefferson. The structure is on an accessible path and surrounded by plantings selected from native plants found in Jefferson’s writings.

Enslaved men, women, and children recorded in Jefferson's Farm Book in 1810.

Monticello staff, descendants of Monticello's enslaved community, HGA Architects, Nelson Byrd Woltz landscape architects, and other advisory groups collaborated on the design. Construction began in January 2023 and was completed by June 2023.

Among the records Jefferson kept in his Farm Book were the names of men, women, and children enslaved on his Monticello, Poplar Forest, and Elk Hill plantations. These records helped researchers identify the individuals commemorated at the Contemplative Site.

Steel panel installed at the Contemplative Site

The permanent installation of these names on the historic mountaintop acknowledges the contributions and humanity of these individuals.

Landscaping

Newly planted native trees and shrubs surround the wall and path. These plantings replicate the Grove’s historic design using species documented by Jefferson while providing shade. The Contemplative Site also recreates a Jefferson-era road that once ran nearby. Monticello archaeologists defined its route using subtle changes to the topography and Jefferson’s surveys of the mountaintop's road system.