Highland (James Monroe house) facts for kids
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Highland
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Highland, formerly Ash Lawn–Highland. Note: The yellow wing was added on by later owners.
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Southeast of Charlottesville off VA 53, near Simeon, Virginia |
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| Area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Built | 1799 |
| Architect | James Monroe |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001990 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
Highland is a historic estate located near Charlottesville, Virginia. It was once the home of James Monroe, who was the fifth president of the United States. Monroe was also a Founding Father, meaning he helped create the United States.
Highland is right next to Thomas Jefferson's famous home, Monticello. James Monroe bought the land in 1793. He and his family lived at Highland for 25 years, starting in 1799. Sadly, Monroe had to sell the property in 1825 because of money problems.
For many years, the estate was known as Ash Lawn–Highland. However, in 2016, its name was changed back to James Monroe's Highland. This was done to clearly show its connection to President Monroe. Today, Highland is owned and managed by the College of William & Mary, which was Monroe's college.
Contents
History of Highland
Monroe's Home at Highland
James Monroe bought 1,000 acres of land next to Monticello in 1793. His close friend, Thomas Jefferson, encouraged him to buy it. Monroe paid 1,000 pounds for the land.
Six years later, in 1799, Monroe and his family moved to the plantation. They lived there for 25 years. In 1800, Monroe described his first home as a wooden house. It had brick walls and was one story high.
Over the next 16 years, Monroe made his home bigger. He added stone cellars and a second story. He also bought more land, owning over 3,500 acres at one point. But by 1815, Monroe started selling land to pay off his debts. By 1825, he had to sell all of Highland.
Life on the Plantation
Highland was a working plantation. Many enslaved people lived and worked there. About 30 to 40 enslaved individuals helped run the farm. Their living areas were located in different parts of the property. Some lived closer to the main house, while others lived further away in the fields. The buildings where they lived no longer exist today.
Highland After Monroe Left
After James Monroe sold Highland, Edward O. Goodwin bought it. He sometimes called the property "North Blenheim." Monroe described the estate at the time as having a comfortable house. It also had buildings for servants, stables, and barns. There was even a gristmill and sawmill.
Goodwin sold the house and 600 acres in 1834. It was sold again in 1837 to Alexander Garrett. Garrett gave the property its second name, "Ash Lawn." Over the next 30 years, Ash Lawn–Highland was sold many times.
In 1867, John E. Massey bought the estate. The Massey family owned it for 63 years. During their time, they added to the house. This gave it the look it has today.
In 1930, a kind person named Jay Winston Johns bought Highland. The Johns family soon opened the house for public tours. When Johns passed away in 1974, he gave the property to the College of William and Mary. This was James Monroe's old college.
Highland was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is a special place important to American history.
Highland Today
Today, Highland is a 535-acre working farm and museum. It is also a place for art performances. The College of William and Mary operates it.
Visitors can explore the property year-round. It includes the guest house built around 1818. There are also additions from the 1850s and an 1870s Victorian-style farmhouse. You can also see reconstructed buildings. These include a slave quarter, an ice house, and an overseer's cabin. There is also a smokehouse.
In 2016, the name Ash Lawn-Highland was changed. It became James Monroe's Highland. This change helped people better understand its connection to President Monroe.
Discovering Monroe's Original Home
For a long time, people thought the current house was Monroe's main home. But archaeologists found something exciting! They discovered the foundations of a much larger house. This bigger house is now believed to be Monroe's actual mansion.
Evidence suggests the current house was a guest house. For example, the way it was built seems to be from after Monroe moved in. Also, scientists used tree rings to date the wood. They found the wood was harvested between 1815 and 1818. This was later than when Monroe first settled there.
Images for kids
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Highland, formerly Ash Lawn–Highland. Note: The yellow wing was added on by later owners.
See also
