The Horses of Monticello

As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, a rare and timely opportunity arises to share a story that has never been fully told— the story of Horses of Monticello. This book opens a window into Thomas Jeffer­son’s world, where horses were not only essential to transportation and farm­ing, but also to the rhythm of daily life at Monticello.

Horses of Monticello is more than history on a page. It brings to life the ele­gance, utility, and symbolism of horses in early America, connecting Jefferson’s mountaintop home to the broader story of our nation’s founding. The book offers readers an intimate glimpse of the animals that carried ideas, goods, and people across a growing country, illuminating the deep relationship between horses and the American experiment in liberty.

With America250 being planned across the nation-and with Monticello itself preparing as a focal site of commemoration-this book holds a unique place. It aligns with the nation’s reflection on its founding ideals while offering a fresh, untold perspective.

Carrie Bess Douglass is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, Virginia, and the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Dr. Douglass started research about Jefferson’s horses in 2008 as a Fellow at the International Center of Jefferson Studies, located at Monticello. Feeling close identification with both her research subject and his geography, yet true to her anthropological background, she saw herself as doing field work in 18th century Virginia, with Thomas Jefferson as her main informant.