Discovering Mulberry Row

Mulberry Row’s buildings have nearly all disappeared, with only the remains of four surviving, and knowledge of this important place and the history of its enslaved and free people comes from more than 50 years of study using many sources. Jefferson’s record-keeping made Monticello one of the best documented plantations anywhere, and historians study letters, maps, and account books to learn who lived there, what they did, and how and why Mulberry Row changed over time. Since the 1950s, archaeologists have located the foundations of buildings shown on Jefferson’s 1796 Mutual Assurance plat, discovered additional structures, and unearthed thousands of artifacts that provide evidence about how enslaved and free people lived and worked. Architects and historians also use archaeological evidence and knowledge of building techniques to create drawings and digital models of the lost buildings, guiding the re-creation of dwellings, workshops, and storehouses.

Virginia · United States