Monticello
add photosThe guided House Tour covers the rooms on Monticello’s first floor and lasts about 30 minutes. (Because of fire codes, the upper floors are not a part of this tour.) Your admission ticket also includes access to the grounds and two optional outdoor guided tours, of the Plantation Community and of the Gardens and Grounds.
Visiting with Kids. Parents with toddlers are encouraged to use small strollers when touring the house. Parents of active or restless young children may be asked to take turns touring the house, as a courtesy to other visitors.
Monticello does not have extensive dining facilities. However, from April 1 through October 31, the Little Mountain Luncheonette, next to the Monticello Ticket Office, serves salads, sandwiches, hot dogs, chips, cookies, ice cream, and beverages. For your convenience, picnic tables are situated nearby. Snacks and beverages are available at the Monticello Museum Shop. Please help us keep the historic area clean and attractive by not picnicking near the house or in the gardens.
9 Reviews for Monticello
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"A definite must-visit"
We had the opportunity to travel to Monticello this fall- I hadn't been there since I was a pre-teen and was so impressed by all the changes! You arrive in the parking lot and walk to the new visitor's center. There is so much to do and see here- a short video about Monticello, tons of other exhibits on Monticello and Thomas Jefferson and a fabulous gift shop.
Next you take a comfortable shuttle a short distance to Monticello itself. The actual house tour is a scheduled thing and is relatively short. I agree with other reviewers that toddlers and preschoolers might not like this part much. However, it's great for older kids and adults. Tons of information and American history. Also up on the Monticello grounds are several other tours that you can participate in, to learn more about the gardens or the life of a slave on the plantation. Or you can walk around and enjoy the grounds on your own- maybe even walk the very short distance to Thomas Jefferson's family cemetery.
We had a great time wandering around and soaking in the atmosphere. It's definitely a place we plan to return to again.
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"Great for Older Children"
Monticello is a beautiful place to visit. The tour is fascinating and full of a lot of information, but it is not really aimed at younger children (toddlers would get antsy). The grounds of this home are absolutely beautiful. This truly is an amazing place to visit, especially if you are traveling with older children.
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"great historical site"
this is great for children who are learning about thomas jefferson. go on a tour of his home! i went as a child and i remember liking it. i would say a little bit older than six years of age. younger than that probably wouldn't last long on a tour of Monticello.
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"A favorite!"
Monticello is beautiful and personal favorite of our family! We lived in Richmond for 4 years and made an effort to visit Monticello several times while we were there. The gardens are a highlight of ours - first place we saw artichoke growing in a garden. The views are incredible from Jefferson's home. Can't wait to make it back someday! There is tons of grassy space for kids to play which we have always taken full advantage of!
1 family found this helpful
"Better for older kids"
We live in Charlottesville and have been to Monticello several times - for the annual naturalization ceremonies and to tour the house and grounds. The house tours are not for very young children as there isn't much to do except to listen to the tour guide tell you about Jefferson and the house he built. There is a lot to see and do on the grounds, and younger toddlers will have plenty of room to run around and burn off some energy. The naturalization ceremony is inspiring, usually has an interesting speaker (Madaline Albright, Frank McCourt for example) and has the Cville Municipal Band for entertainment. Be warned, though. The ceremony takes place on July 4 and it can be HOT on the mountain. There's precious little shade, so get there early to stake out a spot!
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"Gorgeous!!!!"
Monticello is absolutely beautiful it's a part of history that is amazing to see every part of it is gorgeous and i would most definately take children and teenagers and yourself to see it the history and the beauty are amazing and I absolutely loved it!!!
1 family found this helpful
"Fascinating history & beautiful grounds"
We loved visiting Monticello, it was a highlight of our trip for the whole family. Before we went I had purchased a kids book on Monticello, its architecture and builder (Thomas Jefferson). Once at Monticello, we viewed the introductory movie. Then we boarded the shuttle that took us to Monticello where we opted for the kids tour. We were glad we did! The tour was smaller, about 4 families with a total of 9 kids. The woman giving the tour was great! She let the kids sit on the floor in each room and played games with them, asked questions, pointed out fun things in the room and fun facts about TJ and his house. We enjoyed the tour and most of all the kids really enjoyed themselves. We then walked the beautiful grounds and enjoyed the views. I highly recommend the kid tour if you've got kids. Don't forget to ask for a AAA discount!
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"Fun with the Family"
Designed by Jefferson and built over the span of forty years, this mountaintop plantation is considered to be an architectural classic, not to mention a stunning, eye- catching beauty set in peaceful surroundings.
Jefferson moved here in 1771, although construction continued until 1809. To get the most out of your family’s visit, start at the visitor center. Along with some 400 artifacts, many of which were found during archaeological excavations at Monticello, there are architectural models and drawings shown in a permanent exhibit.
A thirty-eight-minute film, Thomas Jefferson: The Pursuit of Liberty, is usually shown daily on the hour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (June 15 to the end of August) and at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. the rest of the year.
You can buy a Presidents’ Pass, a combination ticket for admission to Monticello, Ash Lawn–Highland, and the Historic Michie Tavern. Look for the free children’s guide, Exploring Monticello.
Guided tours are offered of the imposing main house, where many belongings of Jefferson and his wife, Martha, remain. Most of the furnishings are original. Jefferson’s innovative thinking resulted in some unusual architectural touches throughout Monticello. For example, because he didn’t like staircases (neither their appearance nor the amount of space they require), most are very narrow or not visible. And the kitchen includes French design to accommodate Jefferson’s “foodie” interest in French cuisine. And Jefferson got a jump on the green revolution with doubled glass doors and windows to keep out the cold.
Jefferson was a brilliant thinker and a number of his gadgets used to make life easier can be viewed throughout the house, such as a two-pen device that enabled him to make a copy of whatever he was writing. (All the more remarkable when you consider that Jefferson lived in a time when there were few gadgets.) The seven-day calendar clock, which he designed, is still in working order and is on display on a mantelpiece.
Visitors can also take tours through the restored orchard, vineyard, and vegetable gardens and view Jefferson’s grave in the family burial grounds. Audio tours enhance the visit. From the house you can take a shuttle bus back to the parking lot or take a walk through the woods along a guided path that passes the family cemetery.
This huge property requires a fair amount of time to tour. Written guided tours of Monticello are available in Braille, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Russian. Reserve tickets online to be sure you get in.
1 family found this helpful
"Beautiful and interesting!!"
In our 6 day tour of Virgina and DC this may have been oneof my favorite spots! The day we went it was overcast, raining and a thick layer of fog was hugging the property - which made you feel that Jefferson could walk around the corner at any minute! We loved it!
When you arrive you have to into the visitor's center and buy tickets for a "bus" ride up the hill to the house. Once you are up the hill you can roam freely. There is a line at the end of the walkway to the front door - this is for tours of the house. I highly recommend the tour. It is less then 30 min and points out all of Jefferson's fun gadgets and what they do!
While we were there the tulips were amazing and in full bloom, but the vegitable garden was empty. You can probably find out whats going on by checking their website.
At the end of the tour you can go under the house through the "secret passage way". Most of the relics in the rooms below are fake - this is dissapointing, but it give you an idea of what things would have looked like.
Can also visit Jefferson's grave - which some find interesting.
The house is beautiful and fun to see. I highly recommend this!
I'm not sure if you can take strollers into the house and little ones may not love this stop. I'd say 1st grade and older are fine.
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