Monticello

Monticello is a neoclassical estate in Albemarle County built on a hilltop with a central dome, symmetrical wings, and underground service rooms. Passages beneath the main floor connect cellars and work areas to the living quarters above.

Thomas Jefferson designed the estate starting in 1768 and spent four decades expanding it, drawing on French architectural ideas. Construction continued until 1809, reflecting his changing views on design and function.

Visitors today see how Jefferson organized daily routines around reading, correspondence, and experiments in rooms that still hold his furniture and tools. The site also shows where enslaved families lived and worked, making their labor and presence part of the story told here.

The grounds include walking paths through formal gardens, restored quarters where enslaved people lived, and exhibits explaining plantation routines in the early 1800s. Sturdy shoes help on uneven paths that connect different parts of the estate.

Jefferson designed mechanical aids like hidden bed alcoves and a rotating serving shelf to keep servants out of sight during meals and gatherings. These devices concealed the constant presence of people who ran the household.

Location: Albemarle County

Architects: Thomas Jefferson

Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Part of: Monticello and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville

Website: http://monticello.org

GPS coordinates: 38.01031,-78.45233

Latest update: December 3, 2025 08:58