SHED LIGHT
ON HISTORY
HISTORICAL TOURS
Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson to promote education as a defense against tyranny, UVA's history is more than its founding ideals. It is also shaped by the labor, activism, and voices of those once excluded. Built and maintained by an estimated 4,000 enslaved laborers between 1817 and 1865, the University's grounds hold stories long overlooked.
From its founding to construction, from the Civil War to Civil Rights, our student-led tours explore 200+ years of change, resistance, and community that shape the present. Tours navigate the outdoor grounds of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and are written by students after a semester of intensive training, research, and critical reflection.
- Standard History Tours last around 1 hour.
- All tours are free of charge, regardless of group size.
- Donations to support work are welcome at this link here.
SPECIALTY TOURS
In addition to our regularly scheduled historical tours, we also offer Specialty Tours by request, which focus on a specific aspect of UVA's extensive 200 year history.
To ensure guide availability for special topic or large tour groups, all tour requests should be submitted at least two to three weeks in advance. Standard Historical Tours occur regularly throughout the school year and do not require a special request.
Memorial to Enslaved Laborers
MEL tours discuss the history of enslaved laborers' resistance and resilience at the University and the advocacy by community members and students to fully acknowledge and memorialize their labor. MEL tours were designed by the Descendants of Enslaved Communities (DEC-UVA).
Children's Tours
Children's tours run approximately an hour and introduce various exciting stories about the University. Children will learn about the founder of the University, Thomas Jefferson, early life at the University, and the burning of the Rotunda in 1895. The content of these tours is geared toward young children from Pre-K to Fifth grade.
Private Admissions Tours
Admissions tours are 75-90 minutes long and centered around the student experience at UVA. None of our Guides have an identical script. While all tours cover a shared basic information, our goal is to present the University with candor, personal experienceand enthusiasm. The tour covers a brief history of the University, as well as academics, extracurricular activities, athletics, dining, traditions, and much more.
SHED LIGHT
ON HISTORY
The Virginia Guides Service at UVA is an entirely student-run independent volunteer organization. If you would like to provide additional support, please consider donating to our day-to-day operations here. We appreciate your time and thank you for continuing to support our mission.