Charlottesville, Virginia

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

Monticello was the home and plantation of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president. Jefferson designed the house himself.

Official visitor website

All landmarks

Photo: Moofpocket (assumed by Wikimedia Commons), CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

The story

Founding, Independence & Government
Arts, Architecture & Regional Culture

Why it matters

Monticello was the home and plantation of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third president. Jefferson designed the house himself.

Why it may matter to you

Monticello is one of the clearest places to see how the nation's founding ideals and its contradictions lived side by side.

The fuller story

Jefferson enslaved hundreds of people over his lifetime, and Monticello was a working plantation. The site interprets the lives of the enslaved community, including Sally Hemings and her family, along with Mulberry Row, where many enslaved and free workers lived and worked.

Plan your visit

Hours, prices, reservations, and closures change. Check the official visitor website.

Time to allow: Half a day (our estimate)
Setting: Indoor and outdoor
Tickets and reservations: House tours are timed and ticketed. Check the official visitor website.
Getting there: Driving is the easiest way; it is outside downtown Charlottesville.
With family: Hilly grounds; shuttles run between the visitor center and the house. Some tours are designed for families.
Seasons and weather: Open most of the year; summer is hot, fall foliage is popular.
Accessibility: See the operator's website for accessibility information.

Times are estimates and distances are straight-line. Citizen Navigator is an independent educational resource. Visitor access and conditions change. Confirm current details with the destination's official operator.