Highland is a historic plantation owned by fifth President James Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, from 1793 to 1823. It was also home to enslaved African Americans, up to 50 at a time during these years. On this...

Born on April 28, 1758—in Westmoreland County, Virginia—James Monroe was the second of five children of Spence and Elizabeth Jones Monroe, “small” planters who raised tobacco on their farm of approximately 500 acres. Initially educated at Parson Campbell’s school in...

James Monroe’s story is only one aspect of Highland. Enslaved women and men lived on the property for several generations, and had deeper connections to this place than did Monroe, who was often away in public office. Like other plantation...