Ken Burns

Monticello Friday 7/4 In these tense times, you have to wonder what the Fourth of July means to us in 2025. Independence from the English crown, sure, but with No Kings protests and a growing lack of faith in major political parties, the democratic intentions of the founding fathers may reverberate with added gravity—at least […]

July 4th at Monticello

As our country celebrates its collective independence, Charlottesville has the additional honor of welcoming new citizens into the nation at July 4th at Monticello. The historic home’s West Portico transforms into an open-air Naturalization Ceremony where the Oath of Citizenship to become an American is issued to dozens of deserving individuals. This year’s keynote address […]

Monticello still down—and still functioning, despite hack

For more than a week, Thomas Jefferson’s home has reverted back to a time when it didn’t have online ticketing and phone service. And despite the ransomware hack that hijacked its computer and phone systems, the 18th century estate has soldiered on during one of its busiest weeks of the year, when people throng to […]