About Steve Edenbo - as Thomas Jefferson :

Steve Edenbo has been described as a Thomas Jefferson impersonator, motivational speaker, a Thomas Jefferson re-enactor and some simply say he is a Thomas Jefferson look-alike.  However, Steve would describe himself as, “a first-person interpreter.  First-person interpretation is the dramatic portrayal of our nation’s heroes as they were before they were encased in statues and imprisoned in books.  The firs-person interpreter gives a heartbeat to the priceless knowledge we have gathered from artifacts and ink, breathes life into the history we have learned from museums and memorials, and speaks the thousand words a picture is worth.”  He engages audiences and allows them to expand the Q&A construct, tailoring his answers to invite audiences to delve further.  He challenges his audience to challenge him, transforming them from spectators to participants.  Jefferson believed that the exchange of conflicting ideas in an informed, civilized environment was the basis of a free society.  Although Jefferson despised argument, he loved dialect, and believed it essential to the strength of a mind and of a nation. 

Steve spent the month of September pursuing research as a resident fellow at Monticello's International Center for Jefferson Studies in Charlottesville, VA.  A respected professional speaker, he regularly portrays our third President at The National Archives in Washington, D.C., and at Independence Hall and the Declaration House in Independence National Historical Park.  He has been featured on the History Channel and has matched wits with Stephen Colbert on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report".  He has shared Jefferson's life and legacy at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., across America and in England.  Satisfied clients include The Smithsonian Institution, the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, the US Mint, The University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, and the National Governors Association. 

 "Independence National Historical Park was very pleased to again host Thomas Jefferson, portrayed brilliantly by Mr. Steven Edenbo.  His first person program captivated our visitors, especially families.  We look forward to hosting Mr. Edenbo as Thomas Jefferson again; he was a real asset to our interpretive programming in the park."

-Mary F. Jenkins, Interpretive Program Specialist:                               
Independence National Historical Park   

"I'd have to say that Thomas Jefferson (Mr. Edenbo) really made the evening.  He made not only the former president come to life, but the words he spoke from the Declaration of Independence aslo came to life that evenging.  He spoke with such passion on the topic of freedom.  Prior to walking to Independence Hall we were treated to Mr. Jefferson talking to us at dinner.  Some of the adults tried to trip him up when he spoke about slavery as part of the Declaration and how the delegates wanted to remove that paragraph.  He gave an eloquent and impassioned speech on slavery as it fit into the colonies, including his own role as slave owner and what he was doing to ensure the freedom for all people.  In a word he was amazing." 
              
- Steve Craig,
 Pastor - Connect Ministries
 Yorba Linda Friends Church