For an in-depth look at the private life of the third president of the United States, take a behind-the-scenes tour of Monticello. Jefferson built this estate after inheriting land from his father, eventually creating a vast plantation used primarily for cultivation of tobacco and mixed crops. Utilizing slave labor, Jefferson later switched his production from tobacco to wheat. The main house sits on the summit of a 260 m (850 ft) mountain peak, featuring design elements popular in late 18th-century Europe. The surrounding grounds include several historical outbuildings, including a nailery, slave quarters, and rooms Jefferson used for his plant breeding experiments. Check online for upcoming events and available tours. Add Monticello and other attractions to your Charlottesville trip itinerary using our Charlottesville tour planner.
Monticello reviews
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I’d recommend a stop at Monticello for anyone visiting Charlottesville. Only downside was it was a little pricey. For $32, you get to walk through the first floor of the home (but don’t get a guided..... more
I’d recommend a stop at Monticello for anyone visiting Charlottesville. Only downside was it was a little pricey. For $32, you get to walk through the first floor of the home (but don’t get a guided..... more »
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Very awesome. Thus was my second visit. We did the house and garden ticket package which included a tour of the house, a tour of Mulberry Row and a talk/discussion with a Jefferson impersonator. We...
Very awesome. Thus was my second visit. We did the house and garden ticket package which included a tour of the house, a tour of Mulberry Row and a talk/discussion with a Jefferson impersonator. We... more »
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My wife is a history major and had Monticello on her bucket list, so I decided to take her on a special vacation to visit this historical landmark. What a special day we had despite the rain. The facility was very well organized, had a great gift shop and is well maintained. We decided to take the self-guided tour so we could take our time and really take everything in. My wife was in heaven walking room to room and observing all the historical artifacts in the home of our third president, Thomas Jefferson. The home had paintings, Indian relics, antique furniture, books, a poignant scene of children's toys, and unique technical devices from the 1700-1800s. The grounds were amazing and full of beautiful plants, trees and vegetable gardens. Many areas had QR codes that allowed you to pull up a web site on a cell phone, providing written descriptions and audio recordings. There was a great little snack shop on the grounds that offered unusual soft drinks, candy, ice cream and other wonderful treats. We spent over 2 hours taking it all in and enjoying the breath taking scenic views of the mountains and rolling hills. A truly memorable day learning about the history of the home of our third president of the United States of America.
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I had one $#@& tour guide send me to the wrong place to wait for our tour, which then started 15 minutes early. Then openly mocked me for bringing me children (6, 9, 11) on the tour. In front of an entire tour group. Despite this guy... this place is fantastic. The gardens, the views, the architecture museum. We spent 4hrs here learning and being awed by the significance and history of it all. My wife and I could have easily spent more time there, but kids. We did the cheapest tour, which is only the ground floor. If it was just the two of us we'd have done the full thing to see the dome. I highly recommend getting there early and doing the architectural museum at the bottom of the hill before going up. Spend a good 45 minutes doing all the reading and learning of what Jefferson did before going to lay eyes on the building.
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