Before he was a monument, he was just a man

If you know Thomas Jefferson for the Declaration of Independence but little else, it’s time to see the bigger picture. He was our first Secretary of State, our second Vice President and the third President of our young nation. As a statesman, he was without peer; as a slave owner, he was a living contradiction.

Without doubt, there is still much to be learned about Thomas Jefferson. Your visit to Poplar Forest will shed new light on Jefferson and his enslaved community—”who labored for his happiness.” View artifacts from the people who lived and toiled at Poplar Forest. Experience the place that rekindled Jefferson’s creative spirit—and engage with your own.