The early 20th century saw a number of historic restoration projects that had lasting influences on the public's imagination about early American history. These projects included the work of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which was founded in 1923 to "purchase, preserve and maintain Monticello." Despite changes in restoration philosophy, preservation technology, and interpretive imperatives over the past hundred years, long-ago restoration decisions still affect the stories we want historic sites to tell, especially as we interpret them as sites of slavery.
Join us for a live Q&A talk with architectural historian and author of "The Jeffersons at Shadwell," Susan Kern. Kern will discuss her work studying the Thomas Jefferson Foundation's early restoration efforts at Monticello, how visitors encountered the museum during its first few decades, and how those efforts and experiences have changed since.