National Register of Historic Places

Monroe, James, Family Home Site

Oak Grove, Westmoreland County, Virginia
Listed
July 23, 1979
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
79003095

About this property

James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum, also known as James Monroe's Birthplace & Boyhood Home, is a historic archaeological site located near Monroe Hall 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. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, with a boundary increase in 2008. 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.

Location

Oak Grove, Westmoreland County, Virginia

Categories

HISTORIC - NON-ABORIGINAL
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
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Questions about this property

When was Monroe, James, Family Home Site listed on the National Register?

Monroe, James, Family Home Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 23, 1979.

What type of historic resource is Monroe, James, Family Home Site?

Monroe, James, Family Home Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Monroe, James, Family Home Site?

The period of significance for Monroe, James, Family Home Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Monroe, James, Family Home Site?

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