Monticello Podcasts

In this episode of Mountaintop History, we explore the global legacy of the Declaration of American Independence and the many other declarations written since 1776.

Monticello guide Danna Kelley introduces us to Margaret Bayard Smith — writer, biographer, Washington socialite, political influencer, and friend of Thomas Jefferson. Smith's life closely aligned with the idea of Republican Motherhood, with its expanded opportunities for women's education, while also still placing limitations on how women could behave. She nevertheless fought against these limitat...

In this episode, we explore the relationship between John Locke's philosophical arguments and the American Revolution, specifically how Locke influenced the ideas of the Declaration of Independence.

In this episode of "A Rich Spot of Earth" we talk about vining plants, self-sowing annuals, and trees that flower in the summer. We also tackle a less pleasant topic: weeds and what to do about them. Featuring Michael Tricomi, Interim Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens; Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Debbie Donley, Flower Gardener; and, Robert Dowell, Senior Nursery Associate at the Center...

Members of Monticello’s enslaved community were constantly fighting for freedom. Learn more about how they were involved in the Underground Railroad and attempts at helping others reach freedom in the northern states.

Join us as we dive into a famous rivalry and a legendary expression of distrust, questioned honor, and violence from United States history.

Trained at the President's House in Washington, D.C., enslaved chef Edith Fossett cooked for Jefferson for over two decades and oversaw the creation of the food for which Monticello became famous. She and her husband, enslaved blacksmith Joseph Fossett, were born at Monticello, raised their own children there, and, after many years, were able to unite most of their family in freedom. Guides Kyle C...

The arrival of May this year at Monticello has brought mild weather and decent rain -- perfect conditions for growing plants. In this episode of A Rich Spot of Earth, we look at peonies and Jefferson’s unusual “fruits, roots, and leaves” 1812 planting plan before ranging into discussions about asparagus, sea kale, tomatoes, beetles, and blanching pots. Finally, we talk bird peppers and vegetable p...

During the summer of 1805, a young man yearned for freedom. For today's episode of Mountaintop History, we focus on the story of James Hubbard and how he resisted slavery at Monticello.

Recently we welcomed journalist Martin Di Caro to our new digital studio to record an episode of The Washington Times' "History As It Happens” podcast. Joining him in conversation were Brandon Dillard, Monticello’s Director of Historic Interpretation and Audience Engagement, and Alan Taylor, a Pulitzer-winning author and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Chair of the Corcoran Department of History a...

In this episode of our In the Course of Human Events podcast, we look at the fascinating story of Edward Coles and his effort to persuade one of America's founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, to free his slaves. Rebuffed by the former president, Coles acted on his beliefs, taking 19 enslaved men, women, and children with him from Virginia to freedom and self-sufficiency in Illinois. Former Monticel...

For hundreds of years, large fossilized bones have been unearthed in Kentucky, just south of the Ohio River. Some of these bones eventually made it Monticello. Listen to learn how.

April is tulip month at Monticello! In this episode of A Rich Spot of Earth, we celebrate the return of our favorite tulips and share our bulb-planting practices and sources. We also look at what's going on in Monticello’s vegetable garden this month, talk about the benefits of Latin names, and highlight two flowering trees that grace our early spring in Virginia: Rebuds (Cercis canadensis) and Do...

The story of David Isaacs, Nancy West, and their family is one that brings together aspects of Virginia’s Jewish history, Black history, and the history of Monticello. Learn more about the challenges of interracial relationships and how this family navigated the color line and the laws that restricted them.

Smallpox was once a terrible and deadly disease. It affected communities across the globe, but when Jefferson was alive there were known ways to combat it. For today's episode, we track the course of smallpox and the development of inoculation in early American history.

Monticello guides Kyle Chattleton and Laura-Michal Balderson discuss the social expectations and realities women of the gentry class faced in 18th-Century Virginia and how they both aligned and diverged for Jefferson's eldest daughter, Martha Jefferson Randolph.

This month on A Rich Spot of Earth, we look at the practice of shipping and planting bare root plants, a Monticello March tradition. We also feature three of our favorite spring ephemerals -- Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), and Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) -- and share when and how you can see them in bloom at Monticello along with how to get and gr...

Thomas Jefferson had a long friendship with Dr. Benjamin Rush, a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of the early United States’ most well-known physicians. The love of science the two men shared was often part of their correspondence, but they shared many other parts of their lives as well and it was Rush who eventually led the famed reconciliation between Thomas Jefferson an...

Monticello guide Kyle Chattleton takes us through the decades-long effort to establish the University of Virginia, which Jefferson considered one of three accomplishments for which he most wished to be remembered.

The American Revolution and her husband's career brought Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson together. In time she grew to enjoy "Mr Jeffersons Society." Yet politics would drive them apart for years, only to rekindle their friendship. Today we will explore the story of, in Jefferson's words, "one of the most estimable characters on earth."

This month on A Rich Spot of Earth, we look at seed sowing, the coming of the new growing season, winter bulbs, nematodes, plants that build soil, plants that spoil soil, and peas, which were arguably Jefferson's favorite vegetable. Featuring Jason Young, Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens at Monticello; Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Michael Tricomi, Vegetable Gardener; and, Debbie Donley...

Thomas Jefferson was not only a law mentor and political ally to James Monroe, but eventually his Albemarle County neighbor. The two men were friends for many years and their political careers aligned in many ways. Current Monticello and former Highland guides Olivia Brown, Alice Wagner, Ariel Armenta, and Richard Ferguson, explore that history in this episode.

Monticello guide Kyle Chattleton looks at the extremely close relationship of Monticello's enslaved joiner John Hemmings and his wife, Priscilla, an enslaved domestic servant owned by Jefferson's son-in-law and at the couple's complex relationship with the Jefferson family.