Visiting with Kids
Monticello appeals to kids of just about every age. To make a visit with kids especially enjoyable, consider the following suggestions:
- Before your visit, download and read Exploring Monticello: A Guide for Young Learners.
- Take one of the Family Friendly Tours, which are offered seasonally at no extra cost.
- While in the house, encourage your child to ask questions when prompted by your guide.
- Look for themes in the house, such as "gadgets," clocks, or portraits (notice the different types of portraits). Look for the natural history specimens, the Native American artifacts, the art, or other objects.
- See if you can find the portraits, paintings, views of the house that appear on the U.S. Nickel and the $2 bill.
- In the gardens look for plants with unusual shapes, lovely scents, and even surprising behavior (hint)!
- Drop by the Griffin Discovery Room in the lower level of the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center.
- Attend the seasonal, free Mountaintop Hands-on Activity Center.
- Visit the Monticello Museum Shop, where we offer many fun and educational toys and gifts.
- Tour before you visit using the Monticello Explorer, where you can 'walk through' 3-D models of Monticello's interior, read about the house's furnishings, view special animated features, see an interactive map of the plantation, and much more.
- Check out the Monticello Classroom, which has lots information written for kids ages 8-14.
- Try the Build Your House activity and e-mail your creation to a friend or relative.
- Help Thomas Jefferson see the modern world! Print, color, and photograph Travelin' TJ at a location near you. You can e-mail us the image for our Flickr group. Or bring Travelin' TJ with you on your visit where you can hang him on our Travelin' TJ Wall in our Smith Education Center.