Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: A Room of Her Own at Monticello
The Mountaintop Project
Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s historic home, is undergoing a $35 million restoration project known as the Mountaintop Project. The goal of the project is to return Monticello to the floorplan it had when Jefferson lived there, and to shed light on the full history of the plantation, including its slave history.
Hemings’ Room
As part of the Mountaintop Project, archaeologists and restoration experts have been renovating the south wing of Monticello. They have uncovered a small, windowless room that is believed to have been the living quarters of Sally Hemings, the enslaved woman with whom Jefferson is believed to have fathered at least six children.
The room is 14 feet, 8 inches wide and 13 feet long. It has a brick floor and plaster walls, and it was built in 1809. Monticello plans to restore the room and stage it with period furniture and artifacts excavated from the property.
The Significance of Hemings’ Room
The discovery of Hemings’ room is significant because it provides a glimpse into the lives of enslaved people at Monticello. It is a tangible reminder of the human toll of slavery, and it challenges the romanticized view of Jefferson as a benevolent slave owner.
The room also raises questions about the nature of Jefferson’s relationship with Hemings. While Jefferson never publicly acknowledged his paternity of Hemings’ children, there is strong circumstantial evidence to suggest that he was their father. DNA tests conducted in 1998 found compelling evidence that Hemings’ descendants were related to Jefferson.
Monticello’s Slave History
Monticello was a 5,000-acre plantation worked by hundreds of enslaved people. For decades, the plantation’s slave history was downplayed or ignored. However, in recent years, Monticello has made a concerted effort to acknowledge and display its slave history.
The Mountaintop Project is part of this effort. In addition to restoring Hemings’ room, the project includes the reconstruction of Mulberry Row, a small village where slaves lived and worked. Monticello has also unveiled a textile shop and stables, and it is planning to restore other slave quarters.
The Importance of Preserving and Interpreting Slave History
The preservation and interpretation of slave history is essential for understanding the full history of the United States. Slavery was a brutal and dehumanizing institution that had a profound impact on the lives of millions of people. By preserving and interpreting slave history, we can learn from the mistakes of the past and work to create a more just and equitable society.
Challenges of Interpreting Hemings’ Room
Interpreting the significance of Hemings’ room is a complex task. There is limited documentary evidence about her life, and the room itself has been altered over the years. As a result, historians and archaeologists must rely on a variety of sources to piece together her story.
One challenge is that Jefferson’s grandson, who provided much of the information about Hemings’ life, was a notoriously unreliable source. Another challenge is that the room was used for a variety of purposes over the years, and it is not clear whether Hemings actually lived there.
Despite these challenges, historians and archaeologists are working to uncover the full story of Hemings and her room. Their work is providing new insights into the lives of enslaved people at Monticello and helping us to understand the complex relationship between Jefferson and Hemings.
