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History of Hotel D

In 2022, the Center for Teaching Excellence commissioned a history exhibit to share the experiences of the enslaved workers in Hotel D. We invite you to view the exhibit to learn more about a typical workday for the enslaved and the abuse they endured, hotel design and function, and the garden workyards. More information on viewing our Hotel D Exhibit online and in person is below.

This project was generously supported by an Inclusive Excellence Grant through UVA's Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The CTE team would like to extend our thanks to the research team: Kirt von Daacke, Louis Nelson, and Ian Iverson; the modeling and technology team: Lauren Massari, Shayne Brandon, and Worthy Martin; Anne Chestnut, who produced the designs for the panels; and Katie Wu, the project manager. Additionally, we would like to thank the Descendants of Enslaved Communities for providing their feedback on and approving the panels.

Hotel D Exhibit Introductory Panel

The following image and text is from the exhibit's introductory panel describing hotel design and function.

Sketch of Hotel D with text introducing the exhibit; text is in the caption
While many early American colleges occupied a single large building that served as a classroom, dining hall, and dormitory, Thomas Jefferson hoped to compartmentalize these functions as he designed UVA. Separated from the library, classrooms, and dormitories that dominated the lawn of the Academical Village, the Hotels on the Ranges served as the dining halls for students as well as residences of hotelkeepers and their families. The dining and boarding services were contracted out to hotelkeepers who operated on tight budgets. Hotels were among the many architecturally simple support buildings that were less visible down the hill from the impressive classical of the Lawn space. Although the hotel exteriors were plain and unadorned, main floor interior hotel spaces, outside of mealtimes, were social centers of the university, often hosting student meetings, dances, balls, and parties well into the evening hours.

Exhibit Viewing

Online

All the Hotel D Exhibit panels can be viewed online.

In Person

If you would like to see the panels in person, the exhibit is located in the main hallway of Hotel D. It is open to the public on Fridays, 1:00-3:00 PM.

Visitors are welcome to drop in during this time.

You may also request an appointment to view the display outside the public viewing hours. The exhibit is available for private viewing during normal business hours, excluding weekends and holidays. We will do our best to accommodate your request. Due to space constraints, we can only permit up to 5 visitors at a time to view the display. Submit a request to cte-hoteldexhibit@virginia.edu with (1) your name, (2) preferred viewing time(s), and (3) the anticipated number of visitors. Prior to your visit, we ask that you review our visitor policy below.

Get directions to Hotel D. Please note that Hotel D is non-ADA compliant. There are four steps to reach our front door.

Visitor Policy

While we are excited to make the exhibit open to the public, Hotel D continues to be the CTE team's primary workspace. Therefore, we would appreciate your cooperation with the following visitor guidelines.

  • Access will be limited to the hallway where the exhibit is located.

  • Refrain from using your cellphone for conversations; it should be set to vibrate or silent.

  • Keep voices at a reasonable level and be mindful of others.

  • Refrain from touching the panels.

  • Outside food and drink (other than water) are not permitted.

  • Taking photographs, without flash, are permitted for personal use.

During your visit, you are welcome to ask our team questions about the exhibit.