What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 9:30am - 4:30pm

James Monroe's Highland

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Charlottesville, VA
James Monroe's Highland

The historic Home of President James Monroe. We welcome visitors of all kinds to learn about the people and events of Highland. Tickets available online.
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We accept reservations for school and tour groups. President James Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe of New York, owned Highland from 1793 to 1826 and lived here intermittently during his many years in public office. The property and the Monroes’ enterprise here was supported by the work of dozens of enslaved women and men whose knowledge and labor made it possible. On April 28, 2016

we announced the results of transformative research. We had discovered the 1799 Lost and Found Main House and correctly identified the 1818 Presidential Guest Cottage through archaeology and architectural history. James Monroe's Highland is open year-round to visitors. Visitors are invited to enjoy all seasons here, with changing views and events throughout the year. Come and see the bright colors of spring, the flower and vegetable gardens in the summer, the stunning fall foliage, and the serene winter landscape adorned in December with seasonal greenery. If this is your first visit to James Monroe's Highland, we welcome you and hope you will return often to note the progress of our research and to participate in our events and programs. If you have visited before, we are grateful for your continuing interest and invite you to become a regular visitor. We hope that each of you has an enjoyable and rewarding visit.

05/30/2026

What stories can physical objects help us tell about the past? And how can those stories help us better connect with our fellow citizens? Highland invites you to engage with these and other questions in our upcoming 250 book event on June 11th from 6:30-7:30pm! We are very pleased to welcome in conversation Christina Shutt, Executive Director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, as she discusses her book, Lincoln: The Life and Legacy That Defined a Nation in 100 Objects. Discover how Lincoln's story--and America's story-- come into focus through the everyday, the unique, and the sometimes unexpected objects from his lifetime.

All attendees are invited to a reception with the author at 5:30 prior to the program. Both the reception and the program are free and open to the public. Register today: https://highland.org/event/why-is-doing-history-important-a-conversation-with-christina-shutt/

05/27/2026

Join us at James Monroe’s Highland on Saturday, June 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for Descendants Day. Hosted by the Highland Council of Descendant Advisors, this special day welcomes everyone to gather for music, food, conversation, and reflection as we honor and share the stories of Highland’s descendant community. Learn, connect, and experience history through inclusive storytelling and community engagement. Learn more and register at https://highland.org/event/2026-descendants-day/.

05/23/2026

Spend your Memorial Day at James Monroe’s Highland! On Monday, May 25, general admission tickets are just $10 per person (kids 6 and under are free). Take advantage of the holiday and explore history, beautiful grounds, and more with family and friends! Make your reservation at https://highland.org/tickets

05/21/2026

In your town for one night only! As president, James Monroe took three tours of the country: the Northern states in 1817, the Chesapeake Bay region in 1818, and the Southern states in 1819. From March to August of 1819, Monroe made his way down the coast from Virginia to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, then inland to Alabama up through Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, and back to Virginia, visiting municipal centers, giving public addresses, and attending public dinners to much pomp and circumstance. This journey was no small feat for the 61 year old president, who travelled largely on horseback during these tours and was was rarely in the same city for more than a few days!

In our era of instant photography and video, it's hard to properly imagine the excitement felt by Americans in Georgia, South Carolina, Indiana, or Kentucky at the opportunity of seeing an American president in person:, when many people could go their whole lives without seeing even the *likeness* of the person at the reins of the nation.

To say he was a big hit was an understatement. (Eat your heart out Taylor Swift 💅💖✨)

05/18/2026

Spend your Memorial Day exploring history at a special price!

On Monday, May 25, enjoy a day at James Monroe’s Highland with discounted general admission tickets for just $10 per person — and kids six and under are FREE!

Take advantage of your day off to tour the home of America’s fifth president, walk the beautiful grounds, and connect with the stories that shaped our nation. Purchase tickets at https://highland.org/tickets

05/16/2026

We've been talking a lot about the semiquincentennial, but of course many of us were around for the nation's last big birthday in 1976 (though unfortunately not the author of this post). As a little treat, we thought we'd share some of the Bicentennial themed paraphernalia we've come across in our own archives and in our own homes! Items like these are important beyond being fun vintage finds-- they are a way to help us track how we understand our own history, and how that understanding changes over time.

First up: *Presidents Birthplaces, Homes, and Burial Sites: A Pictorial Guide*. Originally published in 1976 for the Bicentennial, this manual on the presidents was reprinted through at least 1999 (ours is from 1986). The first page for every president gives a fast stats overview of their birthplaces, family, education, political offices held, occupation after presidency, president at time of death, a quotable quote, and of course the most important piece of information: their zodiac sign ♉️✌️

Highland's entry (then still called Ash Lawn) even includes a shot of the infamous peacocks gifted to the property for the Bicentennial. This pictorial guide has been a lot of fun to flip through-- but we probably wouldn't use it to study for any history tests.

Have you come across any Bicentennial souvenirs this year? We'd love to hear about them in the comments!

05/14/2026

Highland is proud to participate in the Blue Star Museums program! From Armed Forces Day (Saturday, May 16) through Labor Day, active U.S. military personnel and up to five dependents receive FREE general admission.

No registration is required—just present a valid U.S. Military ID upon arrival and enjoy your visit with us.

Thank you for your service—we look forward to welcoming you!
Learn more: https://highland.org/

05/13/2026

Join us for a FREE virtual VA250 program at 6:30 p.m. on May 14, where historian John Garrison Marks examines how Americans have remembered and forgotten George Washington's ties to slavery. Marks' book, Thy Will Be Done, explores how views of Washington's legacy have shifted over time, offering new insight into today's debates about slavery and the nation's founding. Register at https://highland.org/va250-washington

05/05/2026

*250 Collections Spotlight: Bust of Napoleon Bonaparte (c. 1805, after Antoine-Denis Chaudet)*

Bet you weren't expecting to see this guy at James Monroe's country retreat! The presence of this large marble bust often comes as a surprise to visitors, but in the context of James Monroe's life and career it actually makes a great deal of sense (or as much sense as a giant bust of Napoleon can make).

The United States owed a huge debt of gratitude to France (and its "favorite fighting Frenchman" Lafayette) for its support during the American Revolution, and US-French relations continued to play a central role in the growth of the young United States. Monroe was twice a diplomat to France, the second time in 1803 when he was sent by President Thomas Jefferson to finalize negotiations for the Port of New Orleans. The current ambassador Robert Livingston's negotiations had stalled, and not only was France familiar to Monroe, but so was its ruler--Napoleon Bonaparte. In fact, Monroe's daughter had become good friends with Napoleon's now step-daughter Hortense in the school they both attended during Monroe's first appointment as Minister to France in 1794-1796.

The two girls' friendship certainly wasn't the reason that Napoleon would change the deal and offer the United States the entire Louisiana Purchase--which Monroe and Livingston readily accepted--but it is one of many reminders of the ongoing diplomatic and cultural connection between France and the United States. Monroe received this Carrara marble bust some time after the Louisiana Purchase negotiations, likely as a diplomatic gift. He and his wife Elizabeth attended Napoleon's coronation (of himself) as Emperor of France in 1805 🇺🇲🇫🇷

05/02/2026

🌱 Ready to grow your garden—and your plant collection?

Join us on May 9 at Highland for a fun, free Plant Swap with the Albemarle-Charlottesville Piedmont Master Gardeners! Bring a plant (or a few!) to trade and discover something new to take home. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, it’s the perfect chance to swap, learn, and connect with fellow plant lovers. Learn more at https://highland.org/plant-swap.

Address

2050 James Monroe Pkwy
Charlottesville, VA
22902

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	9:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14342938000

Website

http://www.highland.org/

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