Founding Friends, Founding Foes Tour

On July 4, 1826, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

In preparation for the 250th anniversary in 2026, Monticello’s new Founding Friends, Founding Foes Tour explores their complicated relationship. Visitors will learn how Jefferson and Adams became allies in 1776, bitter rivals in an age of partisanship, and friends again in retirement.

By considering the challenges and triumphs of the American Revolution and the early United States, this tour reveals how ordinary people became leaders and encourages visitors to consider how a democracy was born through disagreement, civil discourse, and dedication to shared values.

Following the tour, guests will participate in a Feast of Reason on the mountaintop. Named for dinners that Jefferson hosted and known for their good food and interesting conversation, the Feast of Reason is a new card deck that facilitates conversations on history and democracy over food and drink.