The Visitor Center at the Birthplace will
be open at 10:30am. In 2008, former Army Secretary John O. Marsh, Jr. dedicated the visitor
center and presented the U.S. Army exhibit highlighting James Monroe's role in the
Revolutionary War.
Working in partnership with a number of historical and preservation organizations,
educational institutions, citizens and state and local governments, the James Monroe Memorial
Foundation is coordinating the restoration of the Monroe Farm, the birthplace of President
Monroe, which is a State and National Historic Landmark located near Colonial Beach. Thanks
to generous support from The Jessie Ball duPont Fund, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
is finalizing its working drawings for the reconstruction of the 18th century frame structure
which is approximately 18 by 42 feet.
Born in Westmoreland County on April 28th, 1758, just a few miles from President
Washington's birthplace, James Monroe left the family farm at age 16 to attend the College of
William and Mary and in 1776 postponed his studies to fight in the Revolutionary War. After
serving with General Washington, Monroe embarked on an extraordinary career of public
service that would lead him from the Governorship of Virginia to the United States Senate
(during the first Congress), Minister to France, Spain and Great Britain, Secretary of State,
Secretary of War, and culminate in the Presidency.
Since 1927, the James Monroe Memorial Foundation has been the founder, donor and
supporter of the James Monroe Law Office Museum and Library located at 908 Charles Street in
Fredericksburg. In 2002, donations by members and friends of the Monroe Foundation were
given to the Commonwealth of Virginia to restore and refurbish the gardens at the museum and
a plaque honoring our founder, Laurence Gouvenor Hoes, was presented. In 2008, the Monroe
Foundation opened an exhibit at the James Madison Museum in Orange honoring the "Founding
Friendships of Madison and Monroe in the Young Democratic Republic," and continued its work
with The College of William and Mary which has recently finalized its archaeological findings,
