The tour guides were friendly, well informed, and spent time answering questions. The setting is beautiful, and although the main building is not the original Monroe house, it is filled with furniture appropriate to his time, as well as containing original family items. They are doing interesting archeological work which they discussed as well. The site has a cute gift shop, bathrooms and a picnic area. Overall we enjoyed the visit read more

Really enjoyed my time on the grounds of a another founding father. Plenty of history here. Though not as elevated as Monticello, Monroe's Highland is beautiful in its own right. If you like hiking, there are a few trails around the estate to enjoy. The history of the grounds was fascinating as it tells of a very diverse life of one of American history's statesman. This guy did everything, and his uncle set him up in a good position to succeed in life The guest house, not the original home on the property, shows off items that belonged to the Monroes. Hats off to Roy White who gave a marvelous introduction to the grounds, its history and use. The staff were super friendly. One of the curators gave me a great rundown of the future excavation and the re-unveiling of the foundation of the original Monroe residence. A few folks were checking out the grounds for a wedding location, their host was also nice. During the summer they honor the Blue Star Program so access to the grounds is free. Recommended summer stop. read more

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A wonderful place to learn about James Monroe and his grounds The James Monroe House, also known as Highland, is a historic site located near Charlottesville, Virginia. It was the home of James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, from 1799 to 1823. Monroe was a key figure in American history, known for the Monroe Doctrine and his efforts to establish the United States. Highland offers visitors a glimpse into the life and times of Monroe through unguided and guided tours of the property. The house itself is modest compared to other presidential homes, reflecting Monroe's preference for simplicity. The original structure burned down in the mid-1800s, but the current house includes parts of the replacement structure, with some original outbuildings still standing. If you take the tour they will show you where the excavations have (and are) occurring on a periodic basis. The estate is set on a beautiful, rolling landscape, and visitors can explore the grounds, gardens, and a museum that showcases Monroe's contributions to the nation. Exhibits include personal artifacts, period furnishings, and documents related to his presidency. There were docents in (I think) every structure and most rooms that were very knowledgeable about the places, history, and effects that were on display. I found the entire experience wonderful and informative. The tour costs a modest $18/person and is well worth it. Highland provides a unique perspective on Monroe's life, emphasizing his commitment to public service and his efforts to shape the early republic. I recommend it to all interested in our country's founding fathers and want to learn more about their history and background. read more

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We visited on a snowy January day and had a wonderful time. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. I can only imagine that when the leaves are on the trees and everything is in bloom it is breathtaking. Not a huge property so it's easy to get around. I learned a lot about Monroe! read more

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It's an interesting thing to do, but the original house burned down long ago and has essentially been lost to history. What remains is a guest house which is pretty large for a guest house. I guess civil servants used to make a much better living back in those days. read more

I'm a history buff - the nerdy kind who visits archives and loves to dive into footnotes - that said, Highland is my kind of place: the staff is knowledgeable in search of historical accuracy. If you are searching for history as entertainment goes to Monticello instead. I particularly appreciate the integration of the enslaved persons into the story of Highlands as opposed to being presented as an aside. The trails are a real treat offering easy hikes where you can observe saplings planted to protect the creek. read more

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Beautiful estate of President Monroe. Although the original house burned, the guest house and outer buildings survived and were built upon. Elegant and gives a beautiful taste of 19th century presidential home life. I loved the walnut writing desk and the gardens were stunning. The docents were quite knowledgeable and I enjoyed speaking with them. I learned a lot about the first lady Mrs. Monroe who probably had some illnesses. This was such a gentle sweet and restful place to visit. Such a contrast with Monticello; it was nice to do them both just days apart. It was wonderful to read the thoughts and reflections on the wall about what people said about Jefferson and Monroe and how thoughtful Monroe was I really don't know much about him as one of our presidents but visiting Ashlawn Highland made me want to learn so much more about President Monroe. Definitely a spot not to be missed. read more

James Monroe's Highland - Entry - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

A short visit, as there isn't much there. It is cheaper than Monticello and Montpelier, perhaps, because the house is not the original dwelling of President Monroe, rather it is a guesthouse that still stood after a fire demolished the original house. We did not know that, so felt a little gypped because it was never disclosed when buying the tickets. read more

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Just returned from Virginia, where I did a week of presidential history. Highland was one of our first stops. Overall, glad I went but I'm not overly impressed. The price point is little too high for what I experienced. Tour was a little long and drawn out considering what you see... Just FYI; some of the featured photos are NOT HIGHLAND. I've reported these photos and hope they are taken down. When you go to Highland, your really paying for entrance into the guest house (the original house is no more) which does have some impressive artifacts, including the desk where Monroe drafted the Monroe Doctrine. That alone game me goosebumps. So, yeah, that's worth it.... I do know there is some type of augmented reality tour...maybe that would have made it few worth the money. Or, maybe I should have taken a "specialty tour"... Anyway, it was interesting to learn about all the archeological excavations, which continue, helping uncover Highland's history. Happy there are such dedicated historians. We need them. (Recently learned George Washington's Ferry Farm was almost a WALMART). Overall, walked away somewhat disappointed; I felt meeting "Felix", the resident cat, very well may have been the best part of our visit. Impressive gift shop. read more

James Monroe's Highland - "Felix" - unofficial mascot of James Monroe's Highland. He's well taken care of... - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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Highland is the home of the fifth President of the United States located in Charlottesville Virginia. The 535 acres has several buildings but the original home burned and was rebuilt but the other buildings are original. The huge tree and beautiful gardens and statues are very nice to stroll through. There are walking trails and a gift shop but no restaurant. The estate is just so lovely. read more

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James Monroe is lucky he lived near Thomas Jefferson--as that's probably how he gets all his traffic to his house. Which is a shame, but the original house was torn down, a newer (19th century house) was build in the area, that was made a national architecture landmark so it can't be torn down, and you can visit the original guest house. Guest house? I don't know if they WANT to entirely rebuild his house, if they have permission to, and if they would possibly have the blue prints to even start to conceive of that, but as is, you aren't going to visit his actual house. That's kind of a bummer. The guest house does have a lot of his original furniture or recreations, and it was interesting to hear about what he did have. Then they have some recreation slave quarters and there and in the basement area there were some recreators doing tradework explaining their process. I think the house tries to be fulfilling, but for a dude who was so popular he ran with no opponent, the experience feels lackluster. Hey this isn't like we are going to William Henry Harrison's house! This feels like it should be more impressive like Jefferson's or Madison's estates. I got a Groupon for this, so check and they may still be available. It's worth coming to if you are into history, but maybe do this first then do Jefferson's or it may feel underwhelming. read more

James Monroe's Highland - Guest house (white) newer house you aren't allowed into (yellow) - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

The grounds here are gorgeous and likely the best part of Highland. They have walking trails throughout the property which gives you plenty to do before or after tours. I'd say the whole package itself is alright. I am glad I went but probably wouldn't come back. There just isn't a whole lot to see as the original house is gone, so you can tour the guest house and see a few artifacts but that is about it. Our tour guide was a bit aggressive, but since tour guides vary from day to day so much, I have not included her in my determination of my review. I think it is worth coming to check out once in your life, but don't expect a Monticello experience! read more

To be frank, there's not much to see here. Plenty of beautiful views, some cool items either directly from Monroe's time or thoughtful replicas of what the item may have looked like, and some lovely walking trails. However, the people make it so worth it. They were incredibly kind and knowledgeable. You can tell that they're passionate about history and that they want to inspire that love in others. They also know quite a bit about the local area. I wish that William and Mary would throw a bit more money at this place. I think they could make something very cool. read more

This place is NOT Monticello. I don't mean that as an insult but the size, scope, scale, everything is like comparing Yankee Stadium to a minor league ballpark. Monticello is huge and this place is pretty small. It's nice scenery ten minutes from Monticello but there isn't a whole lot here. The big yellow house isn't related to Monroe and was built after he sold the place. There is what they thought was Monroe's house connected to that house but turns out as of a month ago the found out the white portion of the house was actually Monroe's guesthouse and his actual house was a few hundred feet away before it burned down about 150 years ago. That being said, the staff here is GREAT and gives an amazing tour. The tour is more personal and less rushed/corporate than at Monticello. They do have a good number of Monroe items and you learn a lot about Monroe and his time in office. They also have sheep and peacocks (ask about them, it's a funny story) as well as reproductions of slave quarters. This place is worth seeing but don't plan to spend all day, you can see it all in a couple of hours. read more

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True Story --I'm'updating my review to include I was fortunate enough, being in the Northern VA wine region, to meet a direct descendant of late President Monroe, at a wine tastings. I shared with him that I had just recently visited the Ash Lawn and this gentleman ( he looked like the former Prez, even his stature and jaw line and bushy eyebrows) told he lives not far from Ashland Highland in Charlottesville. Huh? small world and thank God for social gatherings as wine tastings...you'll never know who's next to you at the tasting table... It was a dreadful stormy day when we took a drive in to check out James Monroe's former abode so fitting perhaps that the place looked as dreadful as the weather was this day. We checked in just about 12:25p, paid for 3 tickets and waited for 35 min for the tour to start. As we wait, the lady on the counter in this shabby store for memorabilias of the place, chatted me up asked where I was from. She was pleasant at the outset and friendly, I thought so cool. 1pm came and the lady I was talking to gathered the 3 of us and a couple who had just checked in then she ushered us just around the corner of the store into the side of the house. She was pleasant enough but seemed unsure of what she was telling us of the history of the place. She kept saying and I quote "I think..." and that's how mostly she started each sentence she uttered as if she was uncertain of what she was saying so uncertain that it was as if she had no conviction of the story she was there to tell to us. I vaguely remember the tour of the house and its details, which was concentrated mainly on the daughter who had befriended this French girl who was Napoleon's step daughter. Perhaps I was distracted at how unsure it seemed our curator was...BUT I remembered that James Monroe did a lot of international negotiations on behalf of the US and was Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's friend and all three had settled their properties in within a 50-mile radius of each other. The place is not as neatly kept James Madison's mansion in the neighboring town about 20 miles from this place. Now, that was a site and deserve a review next! read more

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James Monroe, the 5th President of the U.S. serving from 1817 to 1825, has his home up the road from Jefferson. Though his home is not as impressive as Thomas Jefferson's, it is very quaint and simple. It's a light yellow home with 2 stories with slave quarters in the back. Admission is $10 for an adult, $9 if you're a student. We had a great tour guide who knew the ins and outs of the Monroe home. After our tour, we spent some time in the gift shop where the sales associate made some small talk, convincing us to buy this one particular postcard of man sitting down at his desk to write. It turned that the man in the postcard was actually the sales associate! He said that we could take this back to CA and show it to our friends to brag that we knew him. Sure, Mmmmhmmm..... read more

James Monroe's Highland - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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I felt more at ease here than at Monticello, the tour was by far more personable. Very interesting history here and apparently more being uncovered all the time! There were a lot of interesting ties to other presidents and other European royalties here as well with pictures and jewelry. After the tour was over you were allowed to walk around the grounds for as long as you would like. The location was very convenient to other nearby attractions including Monticello. read more

James Monroe's Highland - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charlottesville, Virginia

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This tour was the least impressive of the three Presidential homes for have visited in the Charlottesville area. In part, it is the least restored property of the three and relies on restoration and portrayal rather than original structures to tell the story. It also seems as though Monroe spent relatively little time at this plantation. Ironically, I found our guide to be the best of the three properties. It is worth a visit but I wouldn't dedicate a whole day to it. I suggest pairing it with a visit to Monticello. read more

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I had a great experience visiting Ash Lawn-Highland. I went on a Monday morning at 10am. I was the only one there for the tour. It was great! The docent was incredibly knowledgeable of the property and all its history. I was able to ask several questions and have a great discussion. It was well worth the trip! read more

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Monroe's original house, built in 1799, burnt down in the 1820s. The house that you now tour was a dwelling which they believe Monroe used as a guest house. It's a small house with each room dressed with Monroe memorabilia and/or period pieces. Our guide was fantastic - definitely wait for a guided tour. He explained the state of the nation throughout Monroe's life, situating the former President within the socioeconomic/political landscape, explaining how he became the man who became President. It was utterly fascinating and even more interesting to get a feeling of his relationship with Jefferson, who lived only 20 minutes away. The site has an events facility (an open air stage) and the property is undergoing some archaeological excavations - very interesting. I highly recommend visiting this house; although not specifically historic, it's a great dovetail to Jefferson's Monticello. read more

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Not recommended..expensive to see the home that was not the president's nor are there any original buildings. Biggest problem is 2 kids were not able to attend and they said we ain't giving you your money back. Sad this is the world they live in read more

Great place. LOVELY ROOMS. Very intimate tours which I love. I went on 2 separate tours...Just to get a different perspective. One tour guide was much older and she was very funny and kind of adlib her way through. The next tour guide was younger and very serious but had her facts down to a T and did not forget a single detail. So it was nice to get ALL the details in the second tour! The rooms in this home are really done well. That is another reason I went back through. The bright colors used in the home are beautiful. The linens and canopy are quite lovely. Too bad you cant take photos... The designers did a wonderful job researching and planning this home. It is gorgeous. It is smaller, but my goodness, it is done soo well..ESPECIALLY the bedrooms & the expensive beautiful hunt scene wallpaper (custom handscreen). The landscaping, gardens and garden houses are all very pretty. I took many photos outside. LOVE the big trees. SO picturesque. No wonder people book their wedding here. Very pretty. read more

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Interesting place! We took the tour and learned some interesting facts about our fifth President. If you're in the area stop in.

James Monroe's Highland is a great place to explore! SPOILER ALERT: We were a bit disappointed when the tour started off with their discovery that the actual house on the property is not the original occupied by the Monroe family. An archeological dig found the foundation just a few yards in front of where the house sits now. This was disappointing to us, but we know that much of the furniture in the house was owned by Monroe himself. The tour was great and our guide, a younger gentleman, was so full of knowledge. We really enjoyed the information he shared on the tour and chatting with him afterwards. The cat on property was adorable and followed us around everywhere we want. I wanted to take him home, and I'm not even a cat person! TIP: I would also highly recommend using a Groupon deal to save some money on admission for the tour. This cut the price in half for two people. read more

A small intimate residence that is easily (and unfairly) overshadowed by two other Presidents' much more regal homes. It's unfair to compare Ash Lawn-Highland to its much more famous neighbors Monticello and Mount Montpelier - Monroe was a much simpler man that wasn't as flashy as his counterparts. That is very much reflected in his home, which has a simple unadorned exterior. My girlfriend and I took advantage of a two for $16 Groupon coupon (otherwise prices are $14 per person with discounts for locals, students, seniors, children, etc,) and went on the tour of his house, which lasted approximately 45 minutes, but may be shorter if your group isn't peppering the tour guide with questions. The inside of the house is a bit flashier than the outside and deceivingly large inside (sort of like a TARDIS, it's bigger on the inside). Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about Monroe and was very patient with some of the members of our tour (turns out there are some die-hard Monroe fans out there). At the conclusion of the tour you are allowed to wander the grounds, which have slave quarters, a statue and bust of Monroe, and peacocks if you come in the warmer weather (we unfortunately missed out on them). You can also purchase Monroe swag at the gift shop, which has kitschy touristy American president merchandise and handmade goods like candles and quilts. I was pleasantly surprised by Ash Lawn-Highland. Although it is by far smallest Presidential house I've ever been to, the quality of the tour at the reasonable prices make it a wonderful alternative to the often crowded Monticello next door. read more

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This is definitely worth the trip if you're into Presidential history and would like to know more about one of more accomplished but less well known Presidents, James Monroe. I won't give a lesson here about Monroe since that's the point of the tour, but if you're interested in him I found the staff to be extremely knowledgeable and the gentleman who guided us through the house had answers for all my questions. The price is fairly low and while people tend to compare the place to Jeffersons Monticello next door it's an unfair comparison. Monroe was a mean of limited means compared to Jefferson and his estate reflects that. Not being one of the rock star Presidents, the staff here has a harder job to do with upkeep and maintenance. If you're making a trip to Monticello do yourself and any children with you a favor by including this slice of history. One thing to note, the house has a Yellow and a White side. The yellow part of the house was an addition by a Minister who owned the house after the Monroes and has no connection to them. That's why there's the Ash Lawn part of the title, it was just called Highland by Monroe. Some of the pictures on Yelp focus on the yellow part of the house but don't explain the separation. read more

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No comparison to Monticello, but it gives you a good idea of the differences between Jefferson and Monroe. It is pretty amazing to think about the fact that these two men were friends, visited each other as well as Madison and Barbour! How different things were back in that era. The house is humble but gives you a very good idea of the way Madison spent his life while in this house. In those days our presidents didn't retire in the manner they do today so Madison had to do something to make a living. The tour is quite personal and our guide was knowledgeable and answered all questions put to him. He had a difficult time, however, dealing with the baby on our tour who was a little rammy. Definitely a "must see" either before or after Monticello. read more

Enjoyed the tour of the current building and property. Our tour guide Allyson was fabulous. She is a high school history teacher and does an awesome job detailing Monroe's life. She was funny and entertaining and a great storyteller. I was a little disappointed to learn that the house is a reconstruction and not an original structure. However, they are conducting archaeology work on the property and have partially outlined the original structure with stones so you can get an idea of what once was. I really enjoyed this place. It's not as built up as the other founding father sites but is definitely worth a visit. Monroe is one of the lesser known founding fathers and visiting this location added more to my personal knowledge of his life thanks to our guide Allyson. read more

As the fifth U.S. President, James Monroe was the last of the Virginia Dynasty -- the state provided 4 of the first 5 U.S. presidents. Ash Lawn-Highland (in his day it was simply "Highland") was Monroe's home from 1793-1826 and today is a 535-acre working farm and museum. Since Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) is only a couple miles away, a trip to Ash Lawn-Highland is a natural extension of a day full of presidential history. Entrance to the relatively simple Monroe house and tour is $12 for adults, but locals get in for just $5.00. Monroe served with George Washington during the Revolutionary War and then began 50 years of public service including member of the first U.S. Senate, Minister to France, Britain, and Spain, Governor of Virginia, and James Madison's Secretary of State and Secretary of War during the War of 1812. He is most widely recognized as the key diplomat in the final negotiation of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, acquiring Florida from Spain in 1819, and authoring the famous Monroe Doctrine in 1823 which told Europe that they could no longer colonize the Americas. James Monroe was the last "Founding Father" to be president and his two terms are often referred to as the "Era of Good Feelings." At Ash Lawn-Highland, you can walk through President Monroe's house and see several pieces of art and furniture that were used by the family. His home is modest compared to his mentor Jefferson's estate and his good friend James Madison's home (Montpelier), but it is still an interesting piece of real American history and provides a chance to learn more about an icon who played a key role in shaping our nation. read more

Decided to pay Ash Lawn-Highland a visit this first fall weekend of 2012, and hubby and I were glad that we did!! As Cville residents, there are still lots of places we haven't visited. After a quick look on Yelp, we decided to stop in today for a few reasons - the great reviews and the very reasonable admission fee for locals (just $5). We've actually not been to Monticello yet (GASP) but have visited Montpelier - anyway, this estate is nowhere near as 'grand' but I think that's what made it more approachable and fun. The house, though undeniably modest, is very lovely on the inside and the property has wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Our tour guide, Betty, was full of great anecdotes and worked very well with the kids that were on our tour. We also had the unique opportunity to see food being prepared on a hearth, so that was a neat bonus that also included sugar cookies and apple cider - bonus! I'd definitely recommend visiting here. read more

As presidential residences from the Revolutionary period go, this is a so-so experience. The grounds are beautiful, but the tour is not of any house Monroe actually lived in--that one burned down in the early 1800s. The house you do get to tour was a guest house, but it's been furnished with lots of Monroe's possessions. So that's a silver lining. Monticello and Mount Vernon were more complete experiences (the respective presidents were buried on site), but this is still worth a visit if you're at all into that period of history. read more

Tour guide was great but short. Lady in store very rude.Guess she never heard of Southern Hospitality. The real hose burnt down. Not much to see. Not worth $10. Skip it read more

A much more intimate tour - and much more detailed - than the tour of Jefferson's home. Monticello is the draw for this area, but don't miss this tour if you are interested in this time period. Unlike Monticello, it did not feel rushed. A modest home, but lavishly decorated. And Monroe did not die broke and in debt like Jefferson and Madison. read more

This review is for the trails only. We did the three mile mountain loop. The trail was lovely first thing in the morning and we had the trail to ourselves. One serious elevation gain, but not too strenuous of a hike otherwise. The trails are really well maintained and marked. No great vistas or views - just a very pretty walk in the woods. read more

This is a beautiful place to visit in the fall. You'll get a view of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance and it's a lovely, short country lane drive away from Monticello. The tour was enlightening and the staff were all friendly, dedicated people. As an added bonus, I got to see a newborn baby lamb (1 day old) on the small farm (housing cows, chickens, sheep) and I learned a bit about textile making from Russell--that was cool! read more

We enjoyed the tour. The Tour Guide was very knowledgable. She said that they get about one tenth of the traffic that Monticello gets. There was nothing that I did not like about this place at all. There was an elderly couple on the tour at the same time I was and I really appreciated the way that the tour guide took care of them. She made certain that they had a place to sit in each room. Also, there was a man and woman with a small child, the child started carrying on during the tour so the woman left the tour. I heard the tour guide approach the woman after the tour was over and offer to take her through since she didn't get to stay. read more

The three stars is not in any way a mark against the property or staff. Highland is just much smaller than some of the other presidential homes in the area and there's the issue of the original house having burned down. So you tour a Victorian home built by a later owner, and the small Monroe guesthouse. The staff could not have been friendlier and answered all our questions. The new AR tour was fun for the kids and made the trip out there last a bit longer. They did have quite a few original furniture pieces from the Monroe family as well as their presidential china. A nice detour. read more

If you only have time for one president's home in Charlottesville, I'd go to Monticello. If you have an extra hour, I'd come to Ash-Lawn Highland as well. The house is not impressive, and there's a large Victorian addition tacked on (that's where the tour starts). Our guide was ok, but the tour was as much about Jefferson as it was about Monroe (weird). The tour experience merits 2*s. However...did you know you can get married here? There was a wedding setting up on the lawn, and between the lawn, the garden, and the banquet facility, I think this would be a great option for those in the Charlottesville area! (so an extra star!) read more

Bad experience on a tour here. We were lucky and -- after paying -- only had to wait 25 minutes on a nice Sunday afternoon for a tour (after being told to just wait outside for an indeterminate length of time), but some people had already been waiting 30 minutes when we showed up, and they were starting to plot a rebellion... Then the tour itself was wince-worthy. We actually snuck out when the tour moved outside after an hour or so, it was that bad. The tour guide was completely lacking in context, and she talked SO SLOWLY that I didn't even want to ask questions, for fear it would never finish. She talked so slowly that other people on the tour got restless and started trying to do their own historical lectures in the middle of the tour, because she apparently knew so little. I heard good reviews of this tour from friends, so maybe they were there on a better day with a better guide, but I just can't recommend this. I feel like I learned almost nothing about James Monroe, really. And anyone who put "Madison" in their review apparently learned nothing either, because this is NOT MADISON'S HOUSE. read more

Had a wonderful time here. The tour guide was passionate and knowledgeable and the visitor center lent us an umbrella when it started raining. Beautiful grounds and active research still being done to increase knowledge of slave families. Can't wait to see what they learn! read more