Oak Hill (James Monroe house) facts for kids
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Oak Hill
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Front view of Oak Hill
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Leesburg, Virginia |
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| Built | 1808 |
| Architect | James Hoban |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000842 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
Oak Hill is a large historic home and estate in Aldie, Virginia. It was the home of James Monroe, who was the fifth U.S. President. He lived there for 22 years. The estate is about 9 miles (14 km) south of Leesburg, Virginia. It is located in Loudoun County, Virginia, near U.S. Route 15. Oak Hill is a very important National Historic Landmark. However, it is a private home and not open to the public.
History of Oak Hill
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The main house at Oak Hill was built for President James Monroe in 1822. He lived there part-time after his time as president. From 1827 to 1830, Oak Hill was his only home. Before the main house was built, Monroe lived in a smaller building on the estate. This building is now known as the Monroe Cottage.
The mansion has a special design with five columns at the front. Some people think Thomas Jefferson, a close friend of Monroe, might have helped design it. The building was supervised by James Hoban. He was the same person who designed and built the White House.
Besides the main house, other buildings from Monroe's time are still there. These include the cottage, a smokehouse, and a blacksmith's shop. There is also a square barn and a stone Stallion Barn. These buildings help us understand what life was like back then. Oak Hill is recognized as a U.S. National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important historical place.
How Monroe Got Oak Hill
James Monroe and his uncle, Joseph Jones, bought a large piece of land together in 1794. It was about 4,400 acres (18 square kilometers) in Loudoun County. When his uncle passed away in 1805, Monroe became the only owner of the property. For many years, Monroe mainly lived at another home called Highland. He lived there until 1826. He had to sell Highland to pay off debts he had from being president.
Monroe's Retirement Home
In 1822, Monroe started building the main house at Oak Hill. It is a two-story brick mansion built in the Federal style. He hired James Hoban, the famous designer of the White House, to be the architect. Monroe's good friend and mentor, Thomas Jefferson, also gave many ideas for the design.
Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth Monroe, moved to Oak Hill after he finished his second term as President in 1825. In August 1825, two important guests visited them there. They were the Marquis de Lafayette and President John Quincy Adams. Elizabeth Monroe passed away at Oak Hill on September 23, 1830. After her death, James Monroe moved to New York City to live with his youngest daughter. He lived there until he passed away on July 4, 1831.
After Monroe's death, the property was sold outside of the Monroe family. John W. Fairfax bought Oak Hill in 1852. He later became a lieutenant colonel in the Confederate States Army. His wife stayed at Oak Hill while he was fighting in the American Civil War. General George Meade of the Union Army visited Mrs. Fairfax there. This was about a week before the Battle of Gettysburg.
The property was later bought back by John Fairfax's oldest son, Henry. Henry Fairfax was a civil engineer and a state senator. The estate stayed in the Fairfax family until after Henry Fairfax passed away in 1916. The mansion was made larger in 1922 by adding two new sections. This happened when Frank C. Littleton and his wife owned it. However, the front of the house still looks much like it did when Monroe lived there. Oak Hill is still a private home today and is not open to visitors.
Two U.S. Navy ships have been named USS Oak Hill after this historic estate.
