Thursday, September 21, 2017

Travelling on Thursday - Presidential Sites


I'll be backtracking over our visits to the Presidential sites here in Virginia.  This week we're going to James Monroe's Highland which we visited in April.

Highland is the historic house museum at the home of James Monroe, fifth president of the United States.  In 1793, James Monroe purchased one thousand acres of land near Charlottesville.  His plantation was home to his family for nearly 25 years.


The home today consists of a one-story, three bay by three bay, original frame section connected to a two-over-two central hall addition by a short wide hall serving as a parlor. The addition dates to the mid-19th century.  The photo below shows the addition, known as the Massey House (John E. Massey purchased the property in 1867).  Recent research has revealed the archaeological remains of the 1799 house James Monroe and his family occupied while they lived here.  It would be in the foreground of the photo below.


There are several other buildings close to the house: an Overseer's house, ice house, and the slave quarters shown below.


There are also vegetable, flower, and herb gardens.


It's a beautiful setting for a fun and interesting day out.


Known for over a century as Ash Lawn-Highland and simply Ash Lawn, the estate returned to the name James Monroe used for his Albemarle County home from 1799-1823, Highland.

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