School Field Trips

Led by a Monticello Guide, your students will embark on a 45-minute tour of the first floor of Thomas Jefferson’s home and the historic West Lawn. During the tour, students will explore Jefferson’s vision for America, the realities of slavery on the plantation, and the site’s uniqiue architecture. Guides encourage questions and interactive discussion throughout the experience.

In addition to the guided tour, student groups are invited to enjoy self-guided exploration of the museum galleries, historic gardens, and outdoor mountaintop exhibits.

The number of groups taken each day is limited. To help us accommodate your visit, please submit your request early and include alternative dates if possible.

By utilizing text panels, reader rails, an app, and a scavenger hunt, students enjoy self-guided exploration of the historic mountaintop. Included are the North and South Wings, Cellars, Mulberry Row's reconstructed buildings, the All-Weather passage, the Life of Sally Hemings exhibit, and the gardens. Guests can use their smartphones to read QR codes that will direct them to dynamic content about these spaces, including videos and interviews. 

Access to the first floor of the house is not included in this option.

Monticello is committed to working with Virginia schools to offer engaging, customized experiences that build upon classroom learning and align with Virginia Social Studies Standards of Learning.

Virginia educators and administrators can book our Roundabout School Program—an in-depth, two-hour guided experience designed specifically for student groups. During your visit, you’ll be greeted by a Monticello Guide at the Visitor Center and embark on a historic journey that includes a 45-minute tour of the House, museum galleries, and exploration of the mountaintop exhibits and gardens. The Manager of Student Learning will work directly with you to coordinate your visit and customize program content and activities to best meet your classroom needs.

To request a Roundabout School Program, please fill out the Roundabout Request Form. 

Please note: this program is not available during February, April, October, and November. 

For additional questions or information, please email the Manager of Student Learning at [email protected].

The Archaeology Roundabout is a two-hour interactive program that allows students to learn how archaeology is done at Monticello and what artifacts can tell us about daily life on the mountaintop. Your visit will include a tour of an ongoing archaeological excavation where students will learn about archaeological methods through discussion and hands-on activities such as troweling and screening. Students also will visit the archaeology lab where they will assist archaeologists in processing and identifying artifacts and will learn how artifacts can help us answer questions about the past.

Accessibility note: This program includes stairs and extensive outdoor walking over hilly, uneven terrain and working at an excavation site. As a result, it is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for visitors with limited mobility.  

2026 Dates and Times:

• Tuesday, April 28th (Weather Back-up, Thurs. April 30); Tuesday, September 8th (Weather Back-up, Wed. Sept. 9), Tuesday, October 27th (Weather Back-up, Thurs. Oct. 29)
• 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Booking Information: 

• All Archaeology Roundabouts are free - no house tour reservations required
• Grade level - 4th & 5th grades
• Minimum student group size: 15 students
• Maximum student group size: 24 students

To request an Archaeology Roundabout School Program, please fill out the Roundabout Request Form.

For additional questions or information, please email the Manager of Student Learning at [email protected].