Declaration of Independence Display

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

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

Jefferson, the Dissenters & the Quest for Religious Liberty Religious freedom remains a cherished, defining and contested tenet of the American experiment. As dissenters who challenged Virginia’s religious establishment, Baptists incurred fines, imprisonment, and violen......More

Jefferson, the Dissenters & the Quest for Religious Liberty Religious freedom remains a cherished, defining and contested tenet of the American experiment. As dissenters who challenged Virginia’s religious establishment, Baptists incurred fines, imprisonment, and violent harassment. Together with other dissenters, Jefferson and the Baptists became unexpected allies in the struggle for full religious freedom for those of all faiths and none. Join us as we explore how these devout communities found common cause with the famously skeptical Jefferson during the Founding Era. Dr. Nathan Taylor is an archivist and Baptist history educator who serves as Executive Director of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society and the Center for Baptist Heritage & Studies at the University of Richmond. 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

Archaeology Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Tours offered at 11 Am and 2 pmAn amateur archaeologist known to have studied Native American material culture, Thomas Jefferson would surely be fascinated by the more than 400,000 artifacts found on the Poplar Forest grounds since 1986. Join Poplar Forest’s archaeologi......More

Tours offered at 11 Am and 2 pmAn amateur archaeologist known to have studied Native American material culture, Thomas Jefferson would surely be fascinated by the more than 400,000 artifacts found on the Poplar Forest grounds since 1986. Join Poplar Forest’s archaeologists for a walking tour focused on the latest archaeological dig sites and discoveries on the plantation, including a rare up-close look at some of the artifacts in the Poplar Forest Archaeology Lab.  Tickets for the Archaeology Behind-the-Scenes Tours are $30 in advance and $35 day-of. Admission also includes docent-guided or self-guided tours of Jefferson’s retreat home, self-guided exploration of exhibits in the lower level of the house, the Wing of Offices, the ornamental grounds and the Quarter Site. Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. *Please note, there are no refunds for event tickets for any reason. 

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

Archaeology Behind-the-Scenes Tours

Tours offered at 11 Am and 2 pmAn amateur archaeologist known to have studied Native American material culture, Thomas Jefferson would surely be fascinated by the more than 400,000 artifacts found on the Poplar Forest grounds since 1986. Join Poplar Forest’s archaeologi......More

Tours offered at 11 Am and 2 pmAn amateur archaeologist known to have studied Native American material culture, Thomas Jefferson would surely be fascinated by the more than 400,000 artifacts found on the Poplar Forest grounds since 1986. Join Poplar Forest’s archaeologists for a walking tour focused on the latest archaeological dig sites and discoveries on the plantation, including a rare up-close look at some of the artifacts in the Poplar Forest Archaeology Lab.  Tickets for the Archaeology Behind-the-Scenes Tours are $30 in advance and $35 day-of. Admission also includes docent-guided or self-guided tours of Jefferson’s retreat home, self-guided exploration of exhibits in the lower level of the house, the Wing of Offices, the ornamental grounds and the Quarter Site. Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. *Please note, there are no refunds for event tickets for any reason. 

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

Give Me Liberty Traveling Exhibition

Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation will explore the unique and essential Virginia people, events, and sites that helped bring liberty and democracy to a nation. Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibit will hi......More

Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation will explore the unique and essential Virginia people, events, and sites that helped bring liberty and democracy to a nation. Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this exhibit will highlight the complex, diverse and inspiring Virginia history which is, in fact, America’s story. Composed of 10 double-sided traveling banners, located in the lower level of the historic house, Give Me Liberty: Virginia & The Forging of a Nation will provide context for the coming of the Revolution in Virginia and bring visitors into the core of the action from 1774 through 1776, highlighting how the American Revolution was a war, and more than a war. This exhibit is included with general admission to Poplar Forest.  

VA

Book Talk: Brian Alexander Jefferson's Manual of Parliamentary Practice

As vice president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson presided over the Senate. To improve its procedures, he wrote A Manual of Parliamentary Practice. First published in 1801, Jefferson’s Manual has been the basis for the rules of Congress ever since. In 1812, a sec......More

As vice president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson presided over the Senate. To improve its procedures, he wrote A Manual of Parliamentary Practice. First published in 1801, Jefferson’s Manual has been the basis for the rules of Congress ever since. In 1812, a second edition of the Manual was published with Jefferson’s input, marking his final word on the book.  Now, for the first time, Jefferson’s Manual of 1812 has been printed with all of Jefferson’s additions, along with an introduction detailing the history of the text and the discovery of Jefferson’s revisions. This new edition includes Jefferson’s additions that serve as the basis for changes to the “House Rules and Manual,” published by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025.  Join Author Brian Alexander as he discusses his groundbreaking research using Jefferson’s own writings for this historic Manual of Parliamentary Practice, in its definitive edition. Admission to this book talk is included with general admission to Poplar Forest.   Brian Alexander, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University. His teaching and research focus on American government and US foreign policy, with publications that include A Social Theory of Congress: Legislative Norms in the Twenty-First Century (Rowman & Littlefield 2021) and The Folkways of Congress, editor (Brookings Institution Press 2026). He is director of the W&L Washington Term, an experiential learning program for college students in Washington, DC. Brian also served as American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow (2015–2016) in the office of U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). In 2021, he held a fellowship at the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, where he conducted research on Thomas Jefferson and parliamentary law. Prior to joining W&L, Brian worked as a management consultant serving federal agency clients and in numerous non-profits focused on foreign and domestic policy. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from George Mason University and an undergraduate degree from Miami University. He lives in Lexington, Virginia, with his wife and two daughters.

VA

Bill Clevlen Book Talk: Presidential Road Trips

Travel writer Bill Clevlen is out with a new book called Presidential Road Trips. The book guides readers to places where American presidents made history. From George Washington’s birthplace and the train depot where Jimmy Carter launched his presidential campaign to H......More

Travel writer Bill Clevlen is out with a new book called Presidential Road Trips. The book guides readers to places where American presidents made history. From George Washington’s birthplace and the train depot where Jimmy Carter launched his presidential campaign to Harry Truman’s Key West retreat and Abraham Lincoln’s tomb. The book features 100 homes, retreats, museums, graves, monuments and more to inspire the ultimate American history lesson and travel experience! Join us for a fun and engaging presentation and book signing! Admission to this book talk is included with general admission to Poplar Forest.   Bill Clevlen is a travel journalist and broadcaster with a focus on road trips across America. He’s the author of popular travel guides like 100 Things to Do in America Before You Die and The Ultimate American Music Bucket List. You can hear his stories on radio and tv stations across the US.

VA

Fall Harvest Dinner

One of America’s first foodies, Thomas Jefferson had a taste for fine wines and gourmet foods. Join the president, as portrayed by actor Bill Barker, in his private retreat to raise a glass to a successful harvest season and enjoy a multi-course dinner with wine pairing......More

One of America’s first foodies, Thomas Jefferson had a taste for fine wines and gourmet foods. Join the president, as portrayed by actor Bill Barker, in his private retreat to raise a glass to a successful harvest season and enjoy a multi-course dinner with wine pairings. Must be 21 and over. Tickets for the Fall Harvest Dinner with Mr. Jefferson are $200 per person or $375 per couple. Reservations are required and tickets must be purchased at least a week prior, due to catering considerations. Dress code is business casual. *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