People believe that Jefferson has never left his beloved Monticello and they claim to see Jefferson’s ghost wandering the grounds and also to hear whistling, something that Jefferson was prone to doing as he toured the property.
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Geographic Information
- Address:
- Rt. 53
Outside Charlottesville, VA
United States
Get Directions » - GPS:
- 38.0102784, -78.45231999999999
- County:
- Albemarle County, Virginia
- Nearest Towns:
- Charlottesville, VA (1.9 mi.)
Hollymead, VA (7.4 mi.)
Ivy, VA (8.5 mi.)
Lake Monticello, VA (8.8 mi.)
Free Union, VA (11.7 mi.)
Crozet, VA (14.1 mi.)
Palmyra, VA (14.6 mi.)
Scottsville, VA (14.8 mi.)
Esmont, VA (15.0 mi.)
Ruckersville, VA (16.1 mi.)
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Comments (16)
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Disclaimer: The stories posted here are user-submitted and are, in the nature of "ghost stories," largely unverifiable. HauntedPlaces.org makes no claims that any of the statements posted here are factually accurate. The vast majority of information provided on this web site is anecdotal, and as such, should be viewed in the same light as local folklore and urban legends.
I worked on the curatorial staff back in the early ’90’s. I’d be in the house until about 11PM, cleaning. I very often had “someone” looking over my shoulder, particularly in the hallway to the right of the Entrance Hall. We would also hear doors slam on the third floor. My grandparents lived on the mountain in the caretaker’s cotttage (now the business office) until 1970. After my dad was married, he and my mom would visit, and late in the evening could see lights on in the big house, and hear music. As soon as a window was opened to try and hear better, the music stopped, and the lights went out.
My husband and I were on a guided tour of the home on 9/21/13. We were in the back of the group and as we were exiting Thomas Jefferson’s bedroom something lifted a piece of my hair and have it a tug. I told my husband to stop, he gave me a confused look and asked “stop what?” He didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. Plus he was on my right side and to the front of me when it happened.
When I visited Monticello about 30 years ago the tour group was in the study which has a doorway to Thomas Jefferson’s bedroom. While the tour guide was talking, I felt the sensation that a force was trying to either enter or pass through my body. It frightened me and I moved to the back of the room but it followed me. I paced a while and got very anxious before the feeling left me after 5 or 10 seconds. I’ve never experienced anything like that before or since. I’ve often thought of going back to Monticello to see if the same thing would happen. Maybe some day I will.
My husband and I were waiting for the Mulberry Row tour to begin just yesterday; I was standing in front, at an angle, of my husband when I clearly heard from behind me, “BABY!” I whipped my head around and my husband looked at me like, “What are you doing?!” He swore he said nothing.
I figured this made no sense (thinking of how the word is/was used) until I read Amanda’s comment above, which sounds like a very similar experience.
My kids and I were there this past summer(2015). We were walking around the the house and didn’t think to much about it. When we were under the house I got a strange picture. What do you think?
Mr. Jefferson…. I visit Monticello many times a year. I have heard Mr. Jefferson whistling and I have felt his presence in his bedroom. I have also felt Sally’s presence in the house. I welcome their spiritual presence and that is what makes it feel like home to me
We visited July 15, 2016, we were close to the same location, we took a picture in the wine cellar, there is a strange white mist on the left hand side.
I took a picture of my boyfriend standing outside the house and there is a figure of a small woman/child in period dress on the porch that was not there when i was taking the picture.
Can you post that picture?
My husband and I visited there several years ago. We were on a tour with other folks and we stopped in the one room where I believe the tour guide said the children used to play and there was a room used as the nursery. While the tour guide was speaking I felt someone gently bite my left shoulder and my body actually jerked. I actually felt the mouth, teeth, and warm air being exhaled on my shoulder. At first I thought it was my husband goofing off and I spin my head around to look at him. When I looked at him he was simply listening to the tour guide. Afterwards as we were leaving that particular room, I asked him why he bite me on my shoulder. He said that he didn’t and I absolutely believed him. I would like to add that the bite I felt didn’t hurt and did not leave a mark. I just summed it up to someone wanting to get my attention…which it/he/she did.
My husband and I were there around Easter 2016. We toured the house and grounds then went to the cemetery. I had the oddest feeling while there but didn’t stop to think about it. I took a bunch of pictures of the cemetery, the gates, and my husband as we entered the trail behind the cemetery. When we got home I looked at the pictures and remembered the odd feeling. I felt compelled to really examine them. In the background of one there is an African American man dressed in period clothing peering out from the woods – he defiantly wasn’t there that day. Funny too was that the very next picture was all discombobulated – it was a picture of my husband combined in quarters with a picture of my arm (hard to explain). Anyway… I show the man to anybody who will look and trust me, I myself look at the picture frequently because it amazes me!
When I visited Monticello with my family many years ago I became physically ill as soon as we entered the property. It’s hard to explain how I felt. I was nauseous, had chills, was sweating and dizzy. There was also a heaviness in my chest. The symptoms became much worse when we toured the slave quarters. I felt dread and a sense of wrongness (I don’t know how else to explain it). As soon as we left the property I felt completely well again. I was young, maybe 13 or 14, and knew nothing about the property before hand. I felt like I was experiencing the suffering of the slaves and the experience compelled me to ask the tour guide for more information about the slaves, specifically regarding physical torture and deaths. You couldn’t pay me to go back there.
Michelle Jan 24, 2020
I also had a very strange experience while touring the Monticello home of Thomas Jefferson in August 2019. I was so excited to visit there while my husband and I were vacationing in the Washington DC area, where we had honeymooned 4 years ago. As we approached the home from the front side before the tour began, I felt a frustration come over me, as the front area was scaffold for repairs, but visitors were still able to enter through the front doors. I immediately felt a sense that there was anxiety and concern around me, about what was being done to his home. The tour group began and it was so amazing exploring the front hallway with all its historic displays. As soon as we entered Jefferson’s library room, I felt a sudden pressure or heaviness in my chest that was undeniable and I was even concerned for my health while trying to listen to the tour guide. I also tried to move to another area of the room to see how I felt. I knew I was having a real tightness in my chest and made it hard for me to breathe. This feeling of great heaviness continued and as we passed by his study (I was surprised the tour guide did not stop there) and we all continued into his bedroom area. I felt a sense of great despair while in his personal rooms. I did not feel that way through the rest of the downstairs rooms. I would like to go back to Monticello soon to see if I experience that heavy feeling again. I very much think there is Jefferson’s spirit or a paranormal phenomena happening there which may be the deep sadness he felt over his wife’s death.
when I was there, in Thomas Jefferson’s bedroom, I and my entire family got chills. That night I had a dream about little girls playing there. It was really creepy! Glad other people have had experiences too. Thought I was losing my mind. 😉
My husband and I visited Monticello in August 2022. As we approached the front steps, I became very anxious, my head was spinning, became very nauseous, and felt a very heavy pressure on my chest. The young lady who was at the door suggested that I go inside to have a seat. When I entered the foyer I thought I was about to faint. Another employee came in the front door and said I had to come sit outside. He told me he can’t explain it but this happens alot. After a few minutes the feeling past. Reluctantly I went through the house with my husband but hurried out without him. I had this overwhelming feeling to see Sally Hemings’ slave quarters and to hear of her story that was playing in one of the rooms out back. I can’t explain it but it was real. Can’t stop thinking about that feeling and wondering what spirits were trying to stop me from entering. Not sure if I want to go back anytime soon.
In 2017 my husband and I were on a tour and when we were in one of the daughters bedrooms (I like to think it was Polly) I was tapped twice on my right shoulder very firmly. I spun around to ask my husband what he wanted and he had no idea what I was talking about. I feel it was a woman.