How well do you know the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson? If you are curious about him and want to know more, plan a visit to his home, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Va. Monticello is a reflection of Jefferson — a man who was innovative, brilliant, thoughtful, interested and curious about the world.

As the author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was influenced by the Enlightenment movement of the 18th century that was based on the belief that human reason and knowledge could be used to improve the world and the human condition. To truly understand Jefferson, you need to walk in the place he loved — his Monticello, the center of his world.

You should begin your journey at the Monticello Visitors Center, located 1.5 miles from Monticello on Route 20 near Interstate 64. The permanent exhibition, “Thomas Jefferson at Monticello,” displays more than 400 Jefferson objects, artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations, and architectural models and drawings. As you view these objects, you will begin to understand Jefferson, his love of his family and Monticello, and his creativity. Items Jefferson may have carried in his pocket, including an ivory booklet on which he took notes in tiny script, are displayed. You’ll also see Jefferson’s green-tinted spectacles and the artifacts from his five-year stay in Paris. 

The thought and care that went into creating Monticello can be seen in an exhibit featuring the 40-year period of designing, building and remodeling of the house. You’ll learn about the slaves who lived and worked at Monticello and that Jefferson became one of the few people of his day who tried to abolish slavery.

Before leaving the exhibition, be sure to see the movie “Thomas Jefferson: The Pursuit of Liberty.” The film features commentary by former President Jimmy Carter and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor among others.

With all the knowledge gained at the Visitors Center, you will be ready to visit Monticello. Park in the visitor’s lot, and either take a shuttle or walk to the house. After you arrive at the hilltop, your guided tour of Monticello will begin in the home’s entrance hall. It contains Native American artifacts given by Western tribes to the explorers Lewis and Clark, who were sent by Jefferson on their expedition to the West. You will see a Great Clock, which shows the second, minute, hour and day of the week and is operated in part by weights on ropes that disappear through a hole in the floor to the level below. You’ll also see fossils, maps, paintings and many more items of interest in this room.

As your tour continues, you’ll visit the parlor that contains musical instruments (another of Jefferson’s interests) and paintings of some of Jefferson’s guests as well as those who inspired him. You’ll see the dining room and tea room, brightly lit by natural light; the book room that housed most of Jefferson’s 7,000 books (he preferred the classics and read in seven languages); and Jefferson’s cabinet or study. Jefferson’s interest in science is clearly evidenced in his cabinet. A telescope and other instruments of scientific study are close at hand. 

In Jefferson’s bedroom you’ll note that his bed, as with others in Monticello, was placed in an alcove. This was a space-saving aspect of French design that Jefferson adopted. Jefferson died on this bed, surrounded by his family, on July 4, 1826 — the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

While the guided tour of Monticello is conducted by highly knowledgeable docents, you tour the home’s lower level on your own. In the “dependencies” (areas for domestic work located beneath the house, terraces and  pavilions) you will find a kitchen, smokehouse, ice house, privies, stables, beer and wine cellars and more.

After touring Monticello’s lower level, take a walk around the grounds, where Jefferson’s interest in plants is clearly visible. (He once said that “the greatest service which can be rendered to any country is to add a useful plant to its culture.”) On the grounds you will find a flower garden in the west lawn area. You can also walk along Mulberry Row, a 1000-foot-long road that runs just south of the house.  Named for the mulberry trees planted along its sides, Mulberry Row was the center of plantation activity at Monticello. The various buildings along this road are now gone, and there are few signs they were there. You can also walk through a garden that lies just beyond Mulberry Row.

Mulberry Row also leads to the cemetery where Jefferson is buried along with his wife and other family members. Jefferson left instructions that when he died, he wanted to be remembered for three things (you will discover them on your visit).

From the cemetery you can walk the short distance back to the shuttle station, or you can meet the shuttle at the house and ride back to the parking lot.

At Monticello, Thomas Jefferson is resting in the place he loved best. He said, “All my wishes end, where I hope my days will end, at Monticello.”

For more information, visit www.monticello.org  or call 434-984-9822 Monday through Friday. 

ACCESSIBILITY and tips for your visit

Monticello welcomes visitors with disabilities. The house is wheelchair-accessible, and Monticello is happy to offer special accommodations for sight- and hearing-impaired visitors with advance notice (please call the number below for assistance). Accessible parking, restrooms and a shuttle bus with a wheelchair lift are available.

Guided tours of the Monticello house last approximately 30 minutes. A wheelchair ramp provides access to the interior. Visitors in wheelchairs can view most rooms open for touring. Maneuvering into some rooms may be difficult or impossible depending on the size or model of the vehicle used. Segways are not permitted inside the house. Wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the ticket office/shuttle station and at the house. Certified service dogs are allowed in the house only when used for assisted care.

Most paths around the mountaintop are either brick or crushed gravel.

Wheelchair access to Mulberry Row is possible via a crushed gravel path from the shuttle stop. Access to the west lawn flower garden may require assistance depending on the wheelchair type and/or occupant strength. Similarly, access to the restrooms under the South Pavilion may also require assistance. It would be best to use the restrooms before leaving the shuttle station where you purchase your tickets.

To arrange for assistance, call 434-984-9822 or speak with a Visitor Services Specialist upon arrival at the main parking area.

Reserve your ticket online at www.monticello.org, click “Plan Your Visit,” then “Getting Tickets.” Arrive at the Monticello parking lot at least 30 minutes before the start of your scheduled tour time. Do not bring a bag or backpack larger than 11” by 15” by 6”. Larger bags are not allowed beyond the shuttle station.

Monticello does not have extensive dining facilities. From April 1 through Oct. 31, the Little Mountain Luncheonette, next to the Monticello Ticket Office, serves salads, sandwiches, snacks and beverages. Snacks and beverages are also available at the Monticello Museum Shop on the grounds of Monticello.