Monticello sits atop a lofty hill in Albemarle County, Virginia, not far from the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson, its creator and most prominent resident, who spent more than four decades designing, dismantling and reimagining the estate he called his “essay in architecture.” A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987, the property is considered a national treasure not only for its beauty and historical significance but also for what it reveals about the third U.S. president, a complex and controversial figure whose political philosophy fundamentally shaped the nation. As Franklin D. Roosevelt once wrote, “More than any historic home in America, Monticello speaks to me as an expression of the personality of its builder.”
At the age of 21, Jefferson inherited a nearby hilltop called Monticello where he resolved to build his own home.
Monticello was not just a residence but also a working plantation, home to about 130 enslaved African Americans.
The second incarnation was designed to accommodate houseguests and house collections of books and art.
Monticello is renowned for its extensive gardens, which Jefferson tended and painstakingly monitored.
Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) was a talented architect of neoclassical buildings. He designed Monticello (1769–1809), his plantation home, and his ideal ‘academical village’ (1817–26), which is still the heart of the University of Virginia. Jefferson’s use of an architectural vocabulary based upon classical antiquity symbolizes both the aspirations of the new American republic as the inheritor of European tradition and the cultural experimentation that could be expected as the country matured.
Monticello 931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Explore the house, gardens, and plantation of Monticello, the mountaintop home of the third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. Guided tours include first floor of Monticello, Slavery at Monticello, and Gardens and Grounds of Monticello. Visit the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center and Smith Education Center for films and exhibitions.
Sunday - Friday: 8:30am - 6pm
Saturday: 8:30am - 7:30pm
Adult: $20
Children: $10
Through volunteers, donations, and support from caring individuals like you, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation was created in 1923 to restore Monticello and share Jefferson’s world-changing ideas with a national and global audience. Since its founding, the Foundation has welcomed nearly 27 million visitors to Jefferson’s home, now designated a United States National Historical Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Monticello is touchstone for all who seek to explore the enduring meaning of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Your support helps us to safeguard this national treasure for years to come.
Together, we can hold these truths for future generations.