James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum, also known as James Monroe's Birthplace, is a historic archaeological site located near Oak Grove and Colonial Beach, Westmoreland County, Virginia. The site includes the ruins and a restoration of the Monroe Family Home and birthplace of U.S. Founding Father and President James Monroe, which were uncovered in 1976 by a team from the College of William & Mary. Monroe spent his entire youth working the farm until he left for his education at William & Mary, following which he served in the Continental Army. The archaeological team uncovered a house foundation measuring 20 feet by 58 feet. The known 1845 etchings of the birth home indicate a small four room, rough cut wooden farm house with few outbuildings on a 500-acre farm filled with wetlands.[3]
James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum | |
 Obelisk at the James Monroe Family Home Site, October 2010 | |
   | |
| Location | 4460 James Monroe Highway, Colonial Beach, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°14′31″N 76°59′27″W / 38.24194°N 76.99083°W |
| Area | 74.8 acres (30.3 ha) |
| Built | 1758 |
| Built by | Grigg, Milton |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003095, 08000285 (Boundary Increase)[1] |
| VLR No. | 096-0046 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1979, April 10, 2008 (Boundary Increase) |
| Designated VLR | December 21, 1976, December 5, 2007[2] |
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, with a boundary increase in 2008.[1] Construction started in 2017 to restore Monroe’s home and to create a walking path that highlights James Monroe's accomplishments; construction was projected to take two years, but ultimately lasted until 2021.[4][5]
Museum
editOpened on October 2, 2021, the museum features a visitor center and a restoration of Monroe's birthplace. It is currently open for tours from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
- ^ "The James Monroe Memorial Foundation: James Monroe Birthplace". The James Monroe Memorial Foundation. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
- ^ "James Monroe Birthplace at Colonial Beach". Retrieved June 28, 2020.
- ^ "Birthplace Park & Museum". monroefoundation.org. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "Birthplace Park & Museum". monroefoundation.org. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
External links
edit