Declaration of Independence Display

Poplar Forest, 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA, 24502, United States

Face the Forest 5k Obstacle Course Run

  Join Poplar Forest for the 15th Annual Face the Forest 5k Obstacle Course Run! Challenge yourself to beat the clock as you take on a 3.1-mile obstacle race through the grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation, encountering obstacles (and some mud) along ......More

  Join Poplar Forest for the 15th Annual Face the Forest 5k Obstacle Course Run! Challenge yourself to beat the clock as you take on a 3.1-mile obstacle race through the grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation, encountering obstacles (and some mud) along the way! Scaling hay bales, climbing an A-frame wall, low-crawling through a muddy creek bed, flipping 200-pound tires, and traversing a balance beam represent just a few of the obstacles participants will conquer. Compete individually or gather your family and friends to form a team. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Registration is now open and is $45/person. All registrations before July 25 are guaranteed a T-shirt in their size. After July 24th, registration increases to $50/person. Late registration and day-of registration increases to $60 beginning Thursday, August 13. Entry fees will support children’s educational programming at Poplar Forest. Through our educational efforts, including on-site field trips, the Hands-on History Center, and civic literacy programs, Poplar Forest teaches children new and exciting ways to explore history. After the race, participants are welcomed into our festival area to enjoy activities and local vendors. Reduced admission tickets to tour Jefferson’s private retreat home will be available for all participants on race day in the Poplar Forest Museum Shop. Questions about the RACE or event Logistics?Please contact Talea Teasley at [email protected] or by phone: 434.534.8108. Interested in partnering with Poplar Forest to sponsor this event?Please contact Laura Murphy at [email protected] or by phone: 434.534.8116. *Please note, there are no refunds for event tickets for any reason. Event Tickets DO NOT include admission to the property during daytime hours. To tour the house and grounds between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., you must purchase a regular tour ticket here.

Poplar Forest, 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA, 24502, United States

Exploring the Legacy of America’s Founding Document

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of VA250, Poplar Forest will host a conversation on the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. Local students and guest moderators have been invited......More

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of VA250, Poplar Forest will host a conversation on the legacy of Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. Local students and guest moderators have been invited to participate in a panel discussion based on the results of personal research projects. Join us for a multigenerational program featuring lauded historians and authors, Dr. John Ragosta and Dr. Frank Cogliano, as we discuss the lasting impact of America’s founding document. Dr. John Ragosta is a historian, lawyer, and beekeeper living in Charlottesville, Virginia. His most recent book, For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle, was released by the University of Virginia Press in 2023. A fellow at Virginia Humanities, Ragosta is former historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS) at Monticello where he also served successfully as interim director of the Center. Dr. Frank Cogliano is a specialist in the history of the American Revolution and the early United States. He is the author or editor of twelve books including, Thomas Jefferson Survives: American Independence in His Time and Ours (with Peter S. Onuf) which will be published in 2026.  Dr. Frank Cogliano is Professor of American History at the University of Edinburgh.

VA

Book Talk: Dr. Frank Cogliano

Frank Cogliano (University of Edinburgh) will discuss his new book (co-authored with Peter Onuf), Thomas Jefferson Survives: American Independence in His Time and Ours. Fifty years after signing the Declaration of Independence, John Adams reassured the nation from his d......More

Frank Cogliano (University of Edinburgh) will discuss his new book (co-authored with Peter Onuf), Thomas Jefferson Survives: American Independence in His Time and Ours. Fifty years after signing the Declaration of Independence, John Adams reassured the nation from his deathbed, “Thomas Jefferson survives.” Unaware that Jefferson had died mere hours earlier, Adams was in a larger sense correct: Jefferson had been immortalized in the American imagination. Dissatisfied with the reductive clichés that now define Jefferson’s legacy, Peter S. Onuf and Francis D. Cogliano restore the founding father to his historical context, elucidating in three essays how Jefferson’s understanding of history shaped his responses to the crises of his time, how he conceived of the physical entity that became the United States, and how he articulated a new national identity in 1776. Through their search for understanding, Onuf and Cogliano demonstrate not only why Jefferson matters, but how his wisdom can be applied today. Dr. Frank Cogliano is a specialist in the history of the American Revolution and the early United States. He is the author or editor of twelve books including, Thomas Jefferson Survives: American Independence in His Time and Ours (with Peter S. Onuf) which will be published in 2026. Dr. Frank Cogliano is Professor of American History at the University of Edinburgh.

VA

Roots and Reconnection Festival

Join the Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group, interpretation and archaeology staff, and the Board of Directors for the Roots and Reconnection Festival, a special event to honor, celebrate, and educate about the life, culture, and history of the enslaved Afri......More

Join the Poplar Forest’s African American Advisory Group, interpretation and archaeology staff, and the Board of Directors for the Roots and Reconnection Festival, a special event to honor, celebrate, and educate about the life, culture, and history of the enslaved Africans who lived and worked on the plantation, as well as the culture and life of African Americans today. This festival highlights the profound connection between the past and the present, providing a unique opportunity to reflect on and celebrate our rich heritage. What to Expect: Music and Dance: Enjoy vibrant musical and dance performances showcasing the talent and creativity of the African American community.Exhibits and Tours: Explore informative exhibits and participate in tours that offer deep insights into plantation life and the evolution of African American culture.Food and Celebration: Savor a variety of food while celebrating the rich culture of African Americans.Conversations: Engage in meaningful conversations that promote understanding and appreciation of our shared history and its impact on the present.Admission to the Roots and Reconnection Festival is free and open to the public. Food vendors will be onsite selling lunch throughout the day.

Poplar Forest, 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA, 24502, United States

Fall Naturalization Ceremony

Join Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to witness a Naturalization Ceremony welcoming 30 new American citizens in honor of Constitution Day, the day in 1787 the American Const......More

Join Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to witness a Naturalization Ceremony welcoming 30 new American citizens in honor of Constitution Day, the day in 1787 the American Constitution was signed into law. Admission to the ceremony is included with general admission to Poplar Forest.

Poplar Forest, 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA, 24502, United States

Jefferson's Curiosities: Jefferson & Religion (Nathan Taylor)

Details TBA About the Series: Thomas Jefferson was a man of many varied interests. Join us at Jefferson’s “best dwelling house in the state” as we delve into topics he found particularly fascinating from travel to culinary, leadership to religion. Each talk in the serie......More

Details TBA About the Series: Thomas Jefferson was a man of many varied interests. Join us at Jefferson’s “best dwelling house in the state” as we delve into topics he found particularly fascinating from travel to culinary, leadership to religion. Each talk in the series includes a wine and cheese reception following the presentation. Tickets are $25/each or $100 for all five Curiosities Series talks Other 2026 Jefferson’s Curiosities Series Events: Jefferson’s Travels through the Germanies (Travis McDonald): February 19, 2026 6:30 p.m.What Made Jefferson a Great Leader?: March 26, 2026 6:30 p.m.Jefferson and Trist’s Wild Mississippi Scheme (Karen Chase): May 7, 2026 6:30 p.m.Hearth Cooking (Rachel Deddens): June 11, 2026 6:30 p.m.*Please note, there are no refunds for event tickets for any reason. Event Tickets DO NOT include admission to the property during daytime hours. To tour the house and grounds between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., you must purchase a regular tour ticket here.

Poplar Forest, 1776 Poplar Forest Parkway, Lynchburg, VA, 24502, United States