Visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's mountaintop home, and the University of Virginia, which are recognized as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Jefferson was the third president of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, and founder of the University of Virginia.
Visitors of all ages can tour Monticello to learn about Jefferson’s complex life and legacy. Nearby you will also find James Monroe's Highland, the local residence of the fifth U.S. president, and Montpelier, the home of James Madison, the fourth U.S. president and father of the Constitution.
Compelling programs at Monticello, Highland, and Montpelier provide insights into these three friends, who were at the forefront of ideals we take for granted today, and share the impact of all who lived and labored at the presidential plantations.
Long before Thomas Jefferson's ancestors stepped foot in the region, the Monacan people and their Siouan-speaking tribal allies lived throughout Central Virginia and into the Blue Ridge Mountains. Today, the Monacan Indian Nation is a federally recognized sovereign tribe with headquarters in Amherst County, Virginia.
Use your visit to Charlottesville and Albemarle County to explore Black history and culture at Ivy Creek Natural Area and Historic River View Farm and the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. Conduct your own research at the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society or UVA’s Special Collections Library. Step into history at Michie Tavern, the McCormick Observatory, or the James River Batteau Company. The area offers dozens of historic sites, walking tour options, and other ways to bring the past into the present.
Find museums and historical experiences using the map and listings below. For seasonal events and programs, check out our history events calendar!