Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy.
Charlottesville, Virginia
Tel:
(434) 984-9800
No other home in the United States more accurately reflects the personality of its owner than Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's architectural masterpiece and mountaintop retirement home, overlooking the city of Charlottesville. Monticello is owned and operated by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which has continued to restore the house.
Monticello, which took Jefferson forty years to design and construct, showcases fantastic gardens and exhibits about this great man's life. You'll find artifacts, books, buildings, plants, and landscapes, all which make up the premier display in Jefferson's wondrous world of Monticello.
Daily tours of the house are available all year round and tours of the gardens, orchards and vineyards are offered April through October.
In the Monticello archaeological exhibit you'll find some 250,000 objects relating to the entire community of free and enslaved individuals. You'll find architectural fragments including nails, masonry, wood, hardware, paint, and other miscellaneous items related to the Monticello building. Jefferson's books and works of art are on display, as well as the hundreds of plant varieties in the gardens Jefferson was renowned for keeping. Monticello will leave you with an awesome impression of Thomas Jefferson.
The Monticello Museum Shop offers plants, seeds and garden accessories, books, toys, collectibles, and fabulous Monticello wine. Not to be missed! The Little Mountain Luncheonette serves salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, cookies, ice cream, and beverages. Seating is available at nearby picnic tables. The Luncheonette accepts cash only and is open April through October. Snacks, water, and sodas are available at the Monticello Museum Shop.
To get to Jefferson's home, take Interstate 66 West to U.S. 29 South at Gainesville. Follow U.S. 29 South into Charlottesville and look for the signs for the U.S. 250 West/U.S. 29 South Bypass. Follow this bypass to Interstate 64 East (direction Richmond). Take Interstate 64 East and get off at Exit 121A onto Va. Route 20 South (direction Scottsville). At the second stoplight, turn left onto Route 53 (Thomas Jefferson Parkway) and follow Route 53 East for about 1.75 miles. You'll pass under the stone-arch Saunders Bridge and make a quick right over the bridge into Monticello.
An authentic Jefferson atmosphere can be felt as you step into this historic wonderland. You'll simply love it!
From Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson:
The art, artifacts, books, buildings, plants, and garden and plantation landscapes of Monticello are all part of the premier set of collections related to Thomas Jefferson and the world of Monticello.