Tue 8 Jul 2008
Posted by Meg under Attractions , Vacation
Among other nicknames, Virginia is called “The Mother of Presidents,” as eight former U.S. Presidents have been born here. Charlottesville, home to Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe, makes a great home base from which to take your tour of these historic homes.
Monticello - You may recognize Thomas Jefferson’s Charlottesville homestead from the back of the US nickel. Tours of Jefferson’s home and extensive grounds run seven days a week. Architecture was one of Jefferson’s many passions, and you’ll get a firsthand feel of his unique style as you tour the home he designed himself. Since TJ thought wide staircases were a waste of space, fire code prohibits large tour groups from going upstairs to the home’s most recognized feature, the Dome Room. You can purchase tickets for Evening Signature Tours that will take you to the restricted areas. Visit Monticello in the summertime to avoid school crowds and see the gardens in full bloom.
Ash Lawn-Highland - Don’t spend ALL day at Monticello, because just down the road is Ash Lawn-Highland, home of James Monroe. At Ash Lawn, historical interpreters give house tours and teach educational workshops covering several aspects of 18th century life. You can participate in hands-on lessons about cooking, crafting, games, and more. Each summer, the grounds are host to the Ash Lawn Opera Festival, with several outdoor theater productions. Playing this year are My Fair Lady and Carmen, with several other special productions. Visitors to Charlottesville often overlook Monroe’s home in favor of Monticello, but I highly recommend visits to both!
Montpelier - James Madison was born, raised, and died in this Orange, Virginia home. Since 2004, the home has been undergoing massive restoration to return it to its 18th century state. In addition to regular tours of the home and grounds, theme tours are available. Running April through October are special Grounds and Gardens tours, as well as the Enslaved Community tour, which focuses on the lives of Madison’s 100 slaves and the former president’s attitudes about slavery.
Mount Vernon - Just south of Washington, DC in northern Virginia, George Washington’s plantation is the most popular historic estate in the United States. It’s not really in central Virginia, but it’s worth an extra hour or two of driving. George and Martha Washington lived in Mount Vernon from their marriage in 1759 until George’s death in 1799. In that time, Washington worked to expand the grounds from 2,000 acres to 8,000, and the house from six to twenty-one rooms. Filled with artifacts, videos, and activities, Mount Vernon is an all-day (or more) experience. Visit Mount Vernon’s calendar of events for a detailed list of all the special events offered for your visit.
You can easily make a whole week of these historic tours. Even if you’ve visited once before, there’s always something new to discover your next time around. As a child in school in central Virginia, I visited each of these homes many times, and continue to go back from time to time as an adult. It’s amazing how over two hundred years later, the history is still unfolding — research yields new details and insights all the time, and the visits are never the same.
In addition to the homes listed above, you may be interested in Woodrow Wilson’s birthplace in Staunton. Though he only lived in Virginia as a baby, we still claim him, and you’ll find that many things in Staunton bear Wilson’s name. To the south, you can find Jefferson’s retreat at Poplar Forest in Bedford, Virginia.