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It was meant to be a spectacle. And it was. But not in the way intended. In this episode, author and historian Eliga Gould tells the incredible story of Charles Willson Peale's Triumphal Arch, built to celebrate the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which officially ended the American Revolution and established international recognition of the United States as a new nation. Monticello's Gaye Wilson and Hannah Zimmerman join our look into this pivotal yet often forgotten moment in American history, where art, celebration, and tragedy intertwined.

Reclining in front of Monticello’s Entrance Hall fireplace is a marble statue of Ariadne, a figure from Greek mythology. How did this statue come to be at Thomas Jefferson’s home? Find out on this episode of Mountaintop History with Guide Olivia Brown.

The crew from Gardens and Grounds here discusses Monticello's modern, historic, and unrealized greenhouses, and share tips and techniques for caring for your plants during the winter. Featuring Michael Tricomi, Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens; Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Debbie Donley, Flower Gardener; and Robert Dowell, Senior Nursery Associate at the Thomas Jefferson Center Historic Plants.

Monticello today is an American icon, Jefferson's architectural masterpiece, and a symbol of the American story. It's on the back of the U.S. Nickel. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Replicas of it dot the American landscape, both real and imaginary. But it wasn't always so. At the end of the 19th century, many doubted Jefferson had even designed it. But that changed with the rediscovery of Jefferson's architectural drawings in the early 20th century. What followed is a story of remarkable careers, passionate dedication, economic challenges, and innovative approaches that have made Monticello one of the most enduring places in the American imagination.

Who was Benjamin Banneker? Scientist, clockmaker, Assistant to the Surveyor of Washington, DC, creator of bestselling almanacs, and possibly the first African American to publicly challenge Jefferson on the topics of slavery, race, and equality. In this episode of In the Course of Human Events, we look letters at Banneker and Jefferson exchanged in 1791 and consider how the problem of slavery prevented these individuals with so much in common from forming a friendship.

Sam Riggs now moves our discussion to a particular object in the Cabinet: the bust of John Adams. She shares the ups and downs that these two “frenemies” experienced in their relationship, the reasons why they differed and ultimately went their separate ways, and how they rekindled their friendship. She concludes with a hopeful thought: that these two individuals might show us how even the most strained human connections can be repaired.

While Monticello was Thomas Jefferson’s “little mountain,” the nearby Montalto, which Jefferson also acquired, has its own story. Monticello guide Kyle Chattleton shares Jefferson’s different visions for this mountain, including the construction of an observatory and an elaborate series of waterfalls.

Winter in Virginia isn’t always mild...there were many times in Thomas Jefferson’s life when the cold temperatures at Monticello made normal life difficult. Hear some of those stories in this episode of Mountaintop History.

Winter not only brings cold weather to Monticello, it offers two special ways to experience the house and surrounding grounds. Our Holiday Evening Tours present rare opportunities to tour the house after dark and beautifully decorated for the holidays. And our annual Wreath Workshops feature decorations from the natural world around Monticello gathered throughout the year. Featuring Michael Tricomi, Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens; Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Debbie Donley, Flower Gardener; and Lou Hatch, Monticello Guide and veteran Wreath Workshop instructor.

Monticello guide David Thorson looks at how members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition celebrated the holiday season. He notes how different circumstances resulted in different experiences, and draws much of his discussion from William Clark’s journal.

Ever wonder who Thomas Jefferson picked to be in his first cabinet, or why he selected them? Join Guide Olivia Brown and John Ragosta, Historian at Monticello's Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, to learn more about Thomas Jefferson’s Cabinet Secretaries.

You might think November at Monticello would be a quiet time of year in the garden, but far from it. In this episode, we look at planting -- and eating! -- spring-blooming bulbs, planting and harvesting fall and winter vegetables, and prepping beds for winter. Featuring Michael Tricomi, Manager and Curator of Historic Gardens; Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants; Debbie Donley, Flower Gardener; and Robert Dowell, Senior Nursery Associate at the Thomas Jefferson Center Historic Plants.