James Monroe
5th President
1758-1831
Democratic-Republican
2 terms
Monroe was a soldier, governor, senator, secretary of state, and President
Wrote the Monroe Doctrine, telling other countries not to claim land in North America and South America
His term as President is called the "Era of Good Feeling"
Birthplace: Colonial Beach, VA
James Monroe was born here on April 28th, 1758. The house was dismantled before 1850, but the plantation features an outline of the house, as well as a marker. As of 2008, efforts are underway to reconstruct his birthplace as a museum.
Home: Charlottesville, VA
James Monroe lived here from 1799-1823. It was named "Highland". Later in time, people began calling it "Ash Lawn". Today both names are used and it is called "Ash Lawn-Highland". It is adjacent to Monticello.
The Story
On April 4, 2024, within 45 minutes of leaving Monticello, my dad and I drove the short distance to James Monroe’s Highland, (whose name was changed in 2016). This time, we embarked on a self-guided tour of Highland, which took us about 20-25 minutes. Recent research has shown that this house was actually a guest house and not the actual home lived in by President Monroe, which I had not known. Regardless, I enjoyed the leisurely self-guided tour that marked our third house tour of the day.
The yellow wing of the house was added by later owners.
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Don’t know why I like these old clocks so much!
Home: Charlottesville, VA
James Monroe lived in this house (called the "Monroe Hill House"), until his death in 1831. The college was built around the house.
Home: Aldie, VA
Pressing debts forced Monroe to retire to "Oak Hill" instead of Ash Lawn-Highland. The plantation contains the Main House, the Monroe Cottage, a Smokehouse and a Springhouse, a Blacksmith's Shop, a Square Barn and a Stone Stallion Barn, and possibly, the Brick House.
Grave: Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA
On July 5th, 1858, James Monroe was reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery.
The Story
On April 2, 2024, our second day in Virginia, we got off to a later start and decided to hit some of the cemeteries and locations that wouldn't take long to visit. After finishing up the few things we didn't get to in Fredericksburg, since our hotel was in Richmond, this was the perfect opportunity to see the three graves in Hollywood Cemetery.
The Grave
Plaque on James Monroe's tomb
Me with James Monroe's tomb
Dad by the grave
The Tomb, prior to 2016
Before a 2016 restoration, Monroe's tomb was black.
Gallery
Former Burial Site: New York City Marble Cemetery, Manhattan, NY
On July 4th, 1831, James Monroe died from heart failure. He was interred in the Gouverneur's Family Vault (#147).
Museum: Fredericksburg, VA
The Monroe Museum features many interesting artifacts relating to the Monroe Family. The garden outside of the Museum features a bust of James Monroe. It is located in his law office.
The Story
Our second day in Virginia, April 2, was spent finishing up some of the things we never got to in Fredericksburg. At 1:00 in the afternoon, my dad and I pulled into the James Monroe Museum, which impressed me tremendously. Once again, I learned not to judge a book by its cover.
Burning of the White House, 1814
The museum has several paintings of James Monroe, who I have always believed to be one of our more interesting-looking presidents.
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Monroe's sword
