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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

History Tours of the University of Virginia

For K-12 & College Groups

About Us Specialty Tour Request Form Other Tours

History for all ages

Whether you're visiting with young learners, future students, or fellow scholars, we offer tours tailored to every stage of the educational journey.

Childrens Tour at the Amphiteather steps

Kids (K-5)

A one-hour introduction to UVA that blends key moments in history with what college life is like today. Kids will hear about the University's founding vision, explore the Academical Village's architecture, learn about the 1895 burning of the Rotunda, and see how the University and its community have changed over time through resilience and creativity.

Middle and High School Groups

Explore UVA's traditions, architecture, and the history of student activism and community leadership, including the legacies of slavery, the Civil War, and Civil Rights movement after, alongside at the opportunities, culture, and student life that has developed on Grounds today.

College Students

A deeper, more detailed examination of UVA's past and present, tracing its founding ideals through periods marked by slavery, the Civil War, the 20th century eugenics movement, and progress in Civil Rights. From the 1800s to the present day, this tour reflects on how the University has acknowledged and responded to these histories through community resistance and efforts to address complex social, political, and cultural challenges still shaping the world today.

Because Virginia Guides is student-run, we do not provide tours during exam periods, reading days, or student breaks, which are specified here . If interested in a student tour group, please complete the specialty tour form at least 3 weeks in advance, to better plan with you for your tour group size, interests, and needs.

  • Tours typically last between 1-1.5 hours limited to the areas in and surrounding the Academical Village, the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation at the University of Virginia.
  • All tours are free of charge, regardless of group size. Donations to support work are welcome.
  • Please include any unique interests or needs for your tour group in your tour-request email, we will be in contact shortly to schedule guides and information.

January 2024

“[Guide name]—he was so well informed and thoughtful in explaining the historical relationship to history and the importance of understanding it in the present.”

February 2024

“Well researched presentation. She did a great job putting various events onto a timeline, which in turned helped to explain the contemporary mindset. She also communicated her love of the university.”

February 2024

“I was very impressed with how well the event was organized. I reached out in January when most students were still on break and got a response within 2 days! It was a real pleasure to see such professionalism coming from young people! Bravo and thank you for all you do.”

February 2024

“Our tour guide, [guide], was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. We learned a lot about UVA, Charlottesville, and Virginia through her fantastic storytelling.”

February 2024

“[Guide], the tour guide, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and articulate. The tour itself was well-balanced and managed, in a well-structured way, to cover a variety of interesting subjects.”

October 2025

“This critical/complicated understanding and connection to the institutions we come from are so essential to figuring out how we move forward.“

October 2025

"Going to Monticello after UVa was really important and looking back at the Rotunda from Monticello to see how the organization of the house is related to the organization of the institution, citizenship, and the nation which makes you really question how these spaces normalized what they stood for.”

October 2025

“Thank you for your outstanding tour and extraordinarily generous hospitality. I think our students got a chance to see through your example what an exemplary UVa student sounds like. You also allowed me to reconnect with where I come from. So I can't thank you enough.”

January 2024

“[Guide name]—he was so well informed and thoughtful in explaining the historical relationship to history and the importance of understanding it in the present.”

February 2024

“Well researched presentation. She did a great job putting various events onto a timeline, which in turned helped to explain the contemporary mindset. She also communicated her love of the university.”

February 2024

“I was very impressed with how well the event was organized. I reached out in January when most students were still on break and got a response within 2 days! It was a real pleasure to see such professionalism coming from young people! Bravo and thank you for all you do.”

February 2024

“Our tour guide, [guide], was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. We learned a lot about UVA, Charlottesville, and Virginia through her fantastic storytelling.”

February 2024

“[Guide], the tour guide, was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and articulate. The tour itself was well-balanced and managed, in a well-structured way, to cover a variety of interesting subjects.”

October 2025

“This critical/complicated understanding and connection to the institutions we come from are so essential to figuring out how we move forward.“

October 2025

"Going to Monticello after UVa was really important and looking back at the Rotunda from Monticello to see how the organization of the house is related to the organization of the institution, citizenship, and the nation which makes you really question how these spaces normalized what they stood for.”

October 2025

“Thank you for your outstanding tour and extraordinarily generous hospitality. I think our students got a chance to see through your example what an exemplary UVa student sounds like. You also allowed me to reconnect with where I come from. So I can't thank you enough.”

Explore UVA History

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.

History of Women at UVA

History of African-Americans at UVA

Garden Tours

Memorial to Enslaved Laborers

Children's Tour

History of Women at UVA

History of African-Americans at UVA

Garden Tours

Memorial to Enslaved Laborers

Children's Tour

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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.

Virginia Guides Logo

The Virginia Guides continues 75 years of guiding visitors through UVA in Charlottesville VA. The Guides Service is a student-run organization independent of the University of Virginia, carrying forward tradition while bringing a more complete light to the past.