How Monticello Is Now Telling a More Inclusive Story
Monticello reinterprets its legacy, embracing voices long overlooked and deepening the story of Thomas Jefferson’s estate.
Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s iconic Virginia estate, long stood as a monument to one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers. For decades, its story centered on Jefferson’s achievements—author of the Declaration of Independence, third president, inventor, and architect. Yet the histories of the hundreds of enslaved people who lived, worked, and struggled at Monticello were largely absent from tours, exhibits, and the cultural narrative. Today, Monticello is undergoing a profound transformation: its interpretation now strives to incorporate the lives, resilience, and legacies of those ignored for generations. This article explores Monticello’s journey toward telling a more inclusive story, outlining the motivations, initiatives, and impact of this evolving form of historic storytelling.
The Origins and Early Interpretation of Monticello
Monticello, meaning “little mountain” in Italian, was designed and built by Thomas Jefferson over the course of 40 years, beginning in 1768. It was the seat of Jefferson’s plantation operations, a reflection of his intellectual interests, and the home of his family and more than 400 enslaved men, women, and children over his lifetime.* For much of the 20th century, guided tours of Monticello focused almost exclusively on Jefferson’s personal ingenuity, his role in American history, and the architectural significance of the house and its gardens.*
- The estate was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and later as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Tour narratives centered on Jefferson’s accomplishments in science, politics, and design, often minimizing or omitting references to slavery and life for African Americans on the property.*
After Jefferson’s death, Monticello changed hands and deteriorated considerably, leading to the 1923 founding of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation to preserve and restore the property.*
Motivation for Change: Reconsidering Historic Narratives
As national conversations about race, memory, and the legacy of slavery in America intensified in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, so too did the scrutiny of historic sites like Monticello. Staff and directors began to recognize the inadequacy of a narrative that celebrated Jefferson’s ideals while sidelining the contradictions between his words and his practice as a slaveholder.
Motivating factors included:
- The desire for historical accuracy and intellectual honesty about Jefferson’s dependence on enslaved labor and the lives of the enslaved.
- Feedback from scholars, descendants of the enslaved, and visitors who wanted a fuller, more honest account of Monticello’s past.
- Broader shifts in public history, which began to reject the “Great Man” approach in favor of stories embracing marginalized voices.
Expanding the Story of Monticello: Key Initiatives
Monticello’s new approach is the result of deliberate initiatives spanning physical restoration, research, exhibitions, and innovative programming. These efforts aim to paint a richer, more honest picture of plantation life and the intertwined legacies of Jefferson and the enslaved community.
1. The Restoration and Reinterpretation of Mulberry Row
Mulberry Row was the plantation’s main industrial and domestic hub, lined with workshops, cabins, and other buildings where enslaved people and free workers lived and labored. For years, little physical evidence or interpretation of these spaces was present. Today:
- Key structures along Mulberry Row, including the Hemings Cabin and the storehouse, have been reconstructed based on archaeology and historic documentation.*
- Interpretive signage and digital resources contextualize these buildings, providing biographies, work histories, and family stories of their inhabitants.
- Visitors learn about the daily lives, skills, and resistance of the enslaved, such as the Hemings family and other notable individuals.
2. The “Slavery at Monticello: Paradox of Liberty” Exhibition
In partnership with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Monticello co-developed a landmark exhibition illuminating the experiences of enslaved families who lived and worked at the estate.*
- The exhibition focuses on six representative families—the Hemings, Gillettes, Herns, Fossetts, Grangers, and Hubbards.
- Artifacts, documents, and oral history recordings reveal their family structures, economic contributions, religious lives, and pursuit of freedom.
- Visitors encounter objects such as work tools, personal items, bills of sale, and the portable desk Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence—a stark reminder of the contradictions between his ideals and his lifestyle.*
3. Incorporating Descendant Voices Through the “Getting Word” Project
A centerpiece of Monticello’s inclusivity efforts, the Getting Word oral history initiative, began in the late 1990s and continues today. This project has:
- Interviewed over 170 descendants of those enslaved at Monticello, preserving and sharing their family stories.
- Brought descendants into the interpretive process, with some acting as advisors, contributors, or even guest speakers on tours.
- Deepened the narrative beyond physical artifacts to include living memory and intergenerational perspective.
4. Reinterpreting the House and Grounds
Monticello’s interior is also being reconsidered to expand the stories it tells. Initiatives include:
- Exhibitions within the main house and outbuildings acknowledging the contributions and presence of enslaved laborers in every room, from the kitchen to Jefferson’s private quarters.
- Restoration projects—such as re-furnishing rooms on the second and third floors—aim to accurately reflect the spaces as lived in by both Jefferson’s family and the enslaved community.
- Guides receive ongoing training on engaging with sensitive subjects such as slavery, racism, and reconciliation.
Inclusive Tours and Visitor Engagement
Monticello now offers a diverse range of tours that explicitly address slavery, the plantation economy, and the realities of daily life for the enslaved.*
- The “Slavery at Monticello” tour gives visitors direct access to reconstructed buildings, archaeological findings, and narratives from descendant families.
- The regular house tours emphasize connections between the spaces and those—enslaved and free—who built, maintained, and inhabited them.
- Special events invite scholars, artists, and descendants to participate in public conversations, art installations, and commemorative events tied to African American history.
Challenging and Expanding Understanding of Jefferson’s Legacy
Monticello’s newer interpretive strategies do not attempt to erase Jefferson’s achievements. Instead, they seek to place his accomplishments within the messier context of his life as a plantation owner and slaveholder.
- Exhibits make explicit the paradox between Jefferson’s philosophy of liberty and the reality of his dependence on slavery.
- Visitation materials, tour curricula, and online content encourage critical thinking about the contradictions between America’s founding ideals and its actions.
- The site explores Jefferson’s complex relationships with key enslaved figures, most famously Sally Hemings, with whom he fathered children.
Impact and Reactions: Outcomes of Inclusive Storytelling
This more nuanced and honest approach has led to significant outcomes, both within Monticello and in the broader public sphere:
- Visitor Experience: Many guests respond with gratitude and reflection, reporting that the more complete story deepens their understanding of history and America’s contradictions.
- Education: Monticello partners with schools, educators, and programs nationwide to bring these stories into classrooms and teacher trainings.
- Edited Narratives: Some visitors and critics initially questioned or challenged the new interpretative focus, but Monticello has remained committed to intellectual honesty and historical accuracy.*
Continuing the Work: Future Directions
Monticello’s transformation is ongoing, not complete. The estate’s leadership and staff remain committed to:
- Ongoing historical and archaeological research to uncover new stories, material evidence, and perspectives.
- Continuous dialogue with descendant communities to ensure interpretation remains respectful, meaningful, and current.
- Investing in digital resources—such as interactive apps and online exhibits—to make inclusive storytelling accessible to wider audiences.
- Broadening interpretation to include other marginalized groups historically present at Monticello, such as Native Americans and women, and weaving their stories more firmly into the estate’s narrative fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why did Monticello decide to change the way it tells its story?
A: Monticello’s leadership recognized that focusing only on Jefferson’s achievements ignored the essential roles of the enslaved people who lived and worked on the property. By broadening the focus, they aim to provide a more accurate and meaningful understanding of American history.
Q: Who are some of the enslaved families highlighted in Monticello’s new exhibits?
A: The stories of six major families—the Hemings, Gillettes, Herns, Fossetts, Grangers, and Hubbards—are at the center of exhibitions and tours. Their family trees, work histories, and personal experiences are shared through artifacts, texts, and oral history.
Q: How can visitors learn about these new stories during a tour?
A: Visitors can join “Slavery at Monticello” tours, visit restored buildings on Mulberry Row, and interact with multimedia exhibits and descendant narratives spread throughout the plantation.
Q: Are descendant communities involved in Monticello’s work?
A: Yes. Through the “Getting Word” oral history project, descendants of those enslaved at Monticello share family legacies, participate in interpretation, and advise on new initiatives.
Q: What’s next for Monticello’s efforts to tell inclusive stories?
A: The estate will continue to expand its research, engage diverse communities, utilize technology to reach a broader audience, and reexamine less-explored aspects of its history, such as the stories of Native Americans and women at Monticello.
Plan Your Visit
Monticello is open year-round, offering a variety of tours tailored to different interests. For those seeking a deeper engagement with its history, the “Slavery at Monticello” and related themed tours are highly recommended. Timed tickets, advance reservations, and visitor guidelines are available on Monticello’s official website.
