James Monroe Law Office facts for kids
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Monroe Law Office
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library, February 2022
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 908 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia |
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| Built | 1786 |
| Part of | Fredericksburg Historic District (ID71001053) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000917 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | November 13, 1966 |
| Designated CP | September 22, 1971 |
The James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library is a special place in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It's built on the spot where James Monroe, who later became a U.S. President, had his law office. He worked here from 1786 to 1789. This historic site was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Today, the state of Virginia owns it, and the University of Mary Washington helps run it. The museum shows off many original items and memories connected to James Monroe. You can also see things from his family, like dresses worn by his wife, Elizabeth Monroe, who was a First Lady.
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About the Museum Building
The Monroe Museum is located in the center of Fredericksburg. You can find it on the west side of Charles Street, between William and George Streets. The museum is in a building that looks like an "L" shape.
The oldest part of the building is a brick structure built in 1758. It has a sloped roof and is one and a half stories tall. A larger, square brick building was added in 1964. This is when the museum and library were officially set up.
What You Can See Inside
The newer part of the building holds many items that belonged to James Monroe. It also has a small library filled with books similar to those Monroe might have owned. The museum displays furniture and other artifacts from the Monroe family. Most of these items are from the 1800s.
Outside the museum, there is a peaceful memorial garden dedicated to James Monroe. In the garden, you can see a sculpture of him. This sculpture was made by Margaret French Cresson.
James Monroe's Law Office
This building is made up of three older structures that were joined together. People believe this was the exact spot where James Monroe had his law office. He worked here from 1786 to 1789. Before this time, Monroe had served in Virginia's state government. He was also part of the Congress of the Confederation, which was like the U.S. government before the Constitution. He left that role in 1786.
In 1788, Monroe was a delegate for Virginia. He helped decide if Virginia would approve the new United States Constitution. At first, he didn't want to approve it until a Bill of Rights was added.
How the Museum Started
In 1928, Laurence Hoes bought Monroe's law office. He was a descendant of the Monroe family. Mr. Hoes created the James Monroe Memorial Foundation to take care of the property. He collected many items related to his famous ancestor. He also fixed up the building and opened it as a museum.
In 1964, the new addition was built. The Monroe Foundation then gave the property to the state of Virginia. Today, a special board manages the museum. This board includes members from the Monroe Foundation and leaders from the University of Mary Washington.
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