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Explore Thomas Jefferson's Escape Route

While most of us are familiar with Jack Jouett's harrowing ride from Louisa County to Monticello to warn Thomas Jefferson of a conversation he overheard that the British troops were on their way to capture him, many may not be aware of what transpired next. In 2024, six members of the Albemarle Chapter, NSDAR, created a brochure the general public can use to follow Thomas Jefferson's escape route from the British in 1781.

The brochure traces Thomas Jefferson's escape from Monticello, in Charlottesville, VA, to his retreat home, Poplar Forest, near Lynchburg, VA, using modern-day roads. Travelers can drive the route and learn about Jefferson-era stops and other historic locations along the way. The brochure shares the history of the escape, an illustrated map, recommendations for one and two-day trips, and additional resources. A digital copy of the brochure can be found here: https://www.albemarlechapterdar.org/historic-preservation/.

Printed copies of brochure are also available at Monticello, Poplar Forest, and Charlottesville Albemarle Convention & Visitors Bureau's mobile visitor centers. A Starburst Grant from Virginia DAR helped with printing of this brochure.