Sally Hemings’ Legacy at Monticello
New exhibits that center the lives of enslaved people.
Visitors have long come to Monticello to see and admire Thomas Jefferson’s mansion, but a new silhouette and exhibition bring a largely hidden life into the open.
No portrait exists of Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman who had a decades-long relationship with Jefferson and bore him six children, but the public can now learn the contours of her story.
Monticello has added new exhibits that center the lives of enslaved people, especially Sally Hemings, whose story was long minimized or omitted. A silhouette now represents her presence, since no portrait exists.
Public historian Niya Bates explains that the new interpretation confronts the intertwined issues of slavery, sex, power, and ownership, emphasizing Hemings as a real person with a real legacy.
Archaeologists, including Fraser Neiman, uncover artifacts from enslaved residents — ceramics, nails, everyday objects — which provide physical evidence of their lives. The restoration of Mulberry Row reveals the workshops and homes of enslaved artisans, cooks, and domestic workers.
Monticello’s president Leslie Greene Bowman states unequivocally that Jefferson fathered Hemings’ children, a conclusion supported by DNA evidence and scholarly consensus.
The segment notes:
- Hemings went to Paris at age 13 or 14.
- Jefferson was 43.
- She negotiated the freedom of her future children as a condition for returning to Virginia.
James Hemings and the Kitchen Exhibit
A new kitchen exhibit features:
- A French-style stew stove Jefferson admired in Paris.
- The culinary work of James Hemings, Sally’s brother, who trained in French cooking and cooked at Monticello.
Sally Hemings’ Living Quarters
Researchers identified two rooms where Hemings likely lived. One has been converted from a former public restroom into an exhibit telling her story, including:
- Her timeline
- Her work
- Her time in Paris
- The complexity of her relationship with Jefferson
Her son Madison Hemings’ 1873 oral history provides key details.
Descendants Speak
This segment features descendants reflecting on identity and legacy:
Diana Redman – A direct descendant of Jefferson and Hemings, she describes:
- Seeing Monticello as a place shaped by enslaved labor.
- Feeling a “sense of being” when walking where her ancestors lived and worked.
Andrew Davenport – A descendant of Sally Hemings’ brother Peter, he speaks about:
- Navigating his mixed heritage.
- Acknowledging African-American history as part of his identity.
- The complexity of enslaved people’s lives — injustice, but also community, love, and resilience.
Monticello hopes the new exhibits will encourage visitors of all backgrounds to see slavery as American history.
