I had never heard of Mulberry Row until I visited Monticello. I came to find out that Mulberry Row was where Thomas Jefferson’s slaves had lived and worked for the betterment of the Monticello State and for Thomas Jefferson and his family. I read another review that there was a guided tour which we did not go on, because we didn’t even realize there was a tour for Mulberry Row. We toured it ourselves by traveling the long dirt road that was within the Monticello estate and quite close to the main house and toured the little houses and workshops that dotted the row. There were placards of information inside each of the little houses or on the outside of the areas where buildings were in ruins. There were some docents at a few of the areas along Mulberry row where are you could sit and listen to them talk about the history of mulberry roe and of the people that lived and worked there. There is a small house that was only 12 x 12 where slaves lived. There was also a video in one of the smaller buildings that you can sit and watch for about five minutes they gave you more history of Mulberry Row and the crafts the slaves worked on and how they lived supporting Thomas Jefferson.As you travel along Mulberry row from the beginning of the Monticello house estate down through the row it’ll take you to Thomas Jefferson cemetery where he is buried along with other of his family members. Once you are at the cemetery the free shuttle bus that drives around the Monticello Mountain estate can pick you up and take you back to the visitor center or you can go back in a circle up to the main Monticello entrance, since it is quite a walk up and down Mulberry Road to the cemetery.Beyond Mulberry Row is a working farm with vegetables and plants of which are still in working order however is overgrown and should be harvested at some point. We took a tour of Monticello’s gardens and orchards which took us into the large garden area beyond Mulberry Row. Such a poignant reflection when traveling by foot on Mulberry Row.

As an African American woman and amateur historian, I wanted to see the place that I’d heard so much about. Mulberry Row was an example of how enslaved people were used to build Jefferson’s enterprise other than working the fields.Housing for selected slaves, freed blacks & whites were intermingled among the stables, nail shop ( young boys made nails for Jefferson to sell) storehouses & other workshops. Behind this section were gardens that were still functioning to this day with a variety of vegetables & fruit that were unfortunately decaying on the vines! With hunger every where, I think that they could donate the produce to the general population or continue the enterprise & have a farmers market.Looking up from Mulberry Row, I saw where Sally Hemings & her children allegedly lived. Their one room was built behind the mansion, nestled next to the kitchen and other rooms. It’s rumored that Jefferson built a tunnel from the main house to her room.Mulberry Row was only beneficial to Jefferson and his white descendants. I felt sad while there and sat down to just reflect. Nonetheless, I recommend a visit to actually see the good, bad & ugly on Mulberry Row.

Ashley did an amazing job on Mulberry Row. Her details were insightful and provocative without being political. Her tour made you think rather than promoting an agenda.Every building, every space had a story and she shared that. It's a great investment of 45 minutes of your time. At the end, she provided a poignant quote about the importance of sharing the stories of enslaved people. Today, they have voices and there stories are shared. While only 10-20% of people (aristocrats) had enslaved people--it's important to share how they contributed to creating and maintaining the wealth (or the perception of it in Jefferson's case.) The owners are flawed people who did offer freedom to some slaves. It's not perfect but it is something that is rarely mentioned. They did at Monticello. They also talked about the lashing of slaves. They talked about Sally Hemmings and their children. They showed her as a smart woman who negotiated freedom for them. She found power and a voice in a time where she was not supposed to have either. She is a remarkable woman.The perception of wealthy landowners is uncovered and exposed as they talk about Jefferson's debt and failed businesses. His fiscal mismanagement was even more destructive as slave families were broken up and sold to pay off his debts after his death.Ashley provides great details that will allow you to think and draw your own conclusions. You will see history differently when you finish the tour.

Tour guide excellent -- very canid about the man and the myth and his role in prolonging slavery. The irony of a man who wrote the most inspiring words-all men are created equal is not lost.

It is very easy to see Mulberry Row when visiting Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. It is just a short walk from the house. Very Pretty