Monticello for History Lovers

931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, Virginia


Insider tips and recommendations from fellow history lovers as well as current and former employees and volunteers.

 

Planning your visit

  • When visiting Monticello, it is advised to "prepare to spend a lot of time there if you want to experience everything." And if possible, "sign up for the Behind the Scenes Tour! The extra cost is so worth it." While you're there, "make an extra trip to see Jefferson's Poplar Forest home -- It's much less crowded and you can see the ongoing progress on the restoration. It's fascinating." and "James Madison's home Montpelier is very nearby and worth taking a day to explore." You might also want to consider purchasing the Monticello Neighborhood Pass - a discount combination ticket to tour Monticello, Ash Lawn-Highland, and Michie Tavern's Tavern Museum.
  • Check their website to plan your trip. This way, you will be able to time your visit with one of their special events.
  • Book online and save money.
  • Get your tickets as far out as possible to get the time you want. (Amber Rogers) Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled tour.
  • Have the ticket printed before you arrive. This way, you do not have to wait in the ticket line. (Chyanna Siegel Rainey)
  • I suggest to combine Monticello with a trip to Williamsburg or a trip to D.C. & the Library of Congress to pull together different contexts. For many, the highlight of the Library of Congress has been the recreation of Thomas Jefferson’s library, they have done a great job of interpreting it and making it accessible!(Kristen DeFreez Warr and Christine Cornell McCreedy)
  • Plan on being on your feet all day. Wear comfortable shoes.
  • Don't forget to bring a bottle of water with you. It gets hot in the House especially in summer. 

When to visit

  • Most crowded months: April. Also avoid going on a holiday weekend.
  • It is generally best to visit in the morning (before 11) and late afternoon (after 3).
  • Best months to visit: Late August - September.
  • Go in the off season or on a weekday. If you go when it's crowded you get rushed from room to room and don't get the time to savor anything. (Matt Kausch)

To read in advance

  •  Read a Thomas Jefferson biography, I recommend Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham. It will give you some insight into Jefferson and Monticello. (Linda Imhof) Another interesting read is the historical novel, America's First Daughter by Laura Kamoie and Stephanie Dray (Lynn Beman)

Selecting the tour or tours to take

When you visit

  • Arrive at the opening time or slightly before. Plan on spending most of the day so you can attend different tours and talks as well as having free time to walk around on your own. There are quite a few options to attend different activities. (Caron Chapman-Case)
  • Get a schedule for your tour as early in the day as possible (first tour if you can). If you quickly hustle around the back of the house, you’ll have a clear and unobstructed view of Monticello and its surrounding grounds and gardens to take pictures. Later in the day, this will be packed.
  • Allow 20 Minutes to watch the well-done introductory film, Thomas Jefferson's World, at the Visitor's Center. Preferably before your house tour.
  • Take the shuttle going to the house, it's a 3 minute ride up on a steep hill. After the house tour, walk back down - it's mostly downhill and you'll be able to pass by the cemetery.
  • If you're a Jefferson fan, standing in his library is sure to give you a thrill. Don't forget to walk through the garden. (Matt Kausch)
  • You are permitted to tip the guides.
  • Only bags and backpacks not exceeding 11 x 15 x 6 inches are allowed inside the house.
  • Eating, drinking, chewing gum and using tobacco products are prohibited. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off.
  • The Dome Room is the only room in the house where you are allowed to take photos. You may only get access to the Dome Room and the second floor of the house if you take the Behind the Scenes Tour.

Especially for kids

  • The Family Friendly Tour is outstanding! The guide pointed out interesting things to the kids and carried a bag of things to touch. We learned about Jefferson from the point of view as a grandfather. (Chyanna Siegel Rainey)
  • Consider visiting Monticello during Toddler Time which is offered on the third Saturdays of each month. This includes interactive stories, engaging activities, crafts and free play.
  • Before your visit, download, read, and bring along Exploring Monticello: A Guide for Young Learners (pdf). It will give kids an “anchor” to remember what they see and hear on the house tour.
  • In the gift shop, you may sign up on the computer in the back and receive a nickel from the cashier contained in a little package which makes for a nice memento for the kids.
  • They will provide you with a loaner umbrella stroller at your request at the front of the house.

 

Do you have tips and recommendations to add? What else should a history lover visit when they are in the area? Please add them in the comments below.

 

Introduction to Monticello

According to the Monticello website:

"Monticello is the autobiographical masterpiece of Thomas Jefferson—designed and redesigned and built and rebuilt for more than forty years—and its gardens were a botanic showpiece, a source of food, and an experimental laboratory of ornamental and useful plants from around the world.

Monticello was home not only to the Jefferson family, but to workers, black and white, enslaved and free."

Monticello is open every day of the year, including Sundays, except Christmas.

 


 

Source: Thomas Jefferson's Monticello




Updated July 2, 2018

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