James Monroe's Highland

highland is the restored home of the united states' fifth president and last founding father, james monroe. the historic house museum on monroe's 550-acre estate offers daily guided tours of the monroe home. thomas jefferson encouraged monroe to purchase the land adjoining monticello to form "a society to our taste" in rural albemarle county. monroe and his family owned the plantation from 1793 until 1826. the estate was renamed ash lawn in the 1840s, and in 1974 industrialist jay winston johns bequeathed the estate to the college of william and mary, monroe's alma mater, with instructions "to operate this property as a historic shrine for the education of the general public." as of 2016, the historic home of james monroe has returned to it's original name: highland. today, visitors can stroll through the historic boxwood gardens, visit with farm animals, admire breathtaking panoramic views, and, most importantly, learn about monroe's contributions to the young american republic over 5