Highland

Virtual Program: Engaging W&M Students in Real-World Conservation and Social Justice at Highland
2021-04-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Halifax) | VA
Join us on Tuesday, April 13 from noon-1:00 p.m. for the virtual One Tribe One Day program: Engaging W&M Students in Real-World Conservation and Social Justice at Highland. This public panel discussion will focus on a new student-led vision for William & Mary’s 535-acre campus at James Monroe’s Highland as an interactive field laboratory for students to engage in research that advances conservation and environmental justice in Virginia. A collaboration between the Charles Center, the Institute for Integrative Conservation, and Highland, this research project will activate Highland as a center for place-based learning where students work alongside community stakeholders and conservation partners to address pressing issues.
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Virtual Talk: Florida Bound, Casa Bianca Plantation's Enslaved People
2021-03-30 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax)
On Tuesday, March 30 from 7:00-8:00 pm, join Highland Education Manager Nancy Stetz in conversation with independent researchers Miranda Burnett and Martin Violette to learn about the lives of the enslaved families from Highland who were sold by James Monroe to Casa Bianca plantation in the Florida Territory. Burnett and Violette’s research was featured in the New York Times (July 8, 2019) and was published in the Florida Historical Quarterly (vol. 98 no 2) and the Journal of Slavery and Data Preservation (vol. 1 no. 2).
This virtual talk will be presented via a Zoom webinar and broadcast on the Highland Facebook page. To register for the Zoom webinar follow the link below:
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Nancy Stetz has been Education Programs Manager at Highland since 2014. She manages historical interpretation, educational programming, and group tours. She has a B.S. in Middle Grades Education and an M.A. in Public History, both from Appalachian State University. She is passionate about bringing Highland to life for visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

Miranda Burnett is the Historical Collection Librarian for the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library and Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical Society. For the past 6 years Miranda has also been a guide at James Monroe’s Highland, with a short stint as a guide at James Madison’s Montpelier. Her love of history and discovering unknown stories led her and colleague Martin Violette to collaborate and explore the question “What happened to the enslaved families James Monroe sold to Florida in 1828?” They published their findings on the website TakeThemInFamilies.com and recently contributed the collected data to Enslaved.org. In addition to her research and writing, Miranda is also an avid reader and seamstress and enjoys dragging her family to historic sites.

Martin Violette is an independent researcher who lives in Crozet, Virginia. Before retirement, he worked as a part-time guide at James Monroe’s Highland for five years, and previously as a guide for eight years at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Mr. Violette holds a Masters in Russian literature from UNC-Chapel Hill, with further work at Cornell University, and independent study of Anglophone and Francophone literature of the Caribbean at Cornell and the University of the West Indies, Trinidad.

Highland Virtual Book Club: March Meeting
2021-03-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax)
Join us virtually on Wednesday, March 10, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., for an evening of lively literary discussion. This event is FREE and open to the public.

During the March meeting of our book club, Highland guide Jeff Butcher will lead the group in discussion of James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath.

“This is a welcome and long-overdue portrait of an essential American. Soldier, diplomat, and president, James Monroe was a vital figure in the early Republic, and Tim McGrath has given us a first-rate account of a remarkable life.” —Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power and American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.

To RSVP for this FREE event, click on the link below or email education@highland.org. A confirmation email will be sent with a link to the Zoom meeting for this event.

To support Highland by purchasing your book from our museum shop, call Nancy Stetz at 434-328-1005 to arrange for payment and pick-up of your copy.
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Virtual Talk: New History at Highland
2021-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax)
On February 18, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., join Highland executive director Sara Bon-Harper, moderator Scott Harris of the James Monroe Museum, and members of the Highland Descendant Advisory Council for a virtual discussion on how the site is an innovative setting for understanding U.S. history through the stories of the individuals who lived there and the events that shaped its economic, agricultural, and political contexts. Follow the link below to register for this Highland Zoom Webinar:
Register Now
Presented in partnership with the James Monroe Museum.

Highland Virtual Book Club: February Meeting
2021-02-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax)
Join us virtually on Wednesday, February 10, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., for an evening of lively literary discussion. This event is FREE and open to the public.
During the February meeting of our book club, Highland guide Sharon Hiner will lead the group in discussion of You Never Forget Your First, by Alexis Coe.
“In her form-shattering and myth-crushing book….Coe examines myths with mirth, and writes history with humor… [You Never Forget Your First] is an accessible look at a president who always finishes in the first ranks of our leaders.” —Boston Globe
To RSVP for this FREE event, click on the link below or email education@highland.org. A confirmation email will be sent with a link to the Zoom meeting for this event.

To support Highland by purchasing your book from our museum shop, call Nancy Stetz at 434-328-1005 to arrange for payment and pick-up of your copy.

Virtual Talk: Unearthing James Monroe's Life
2020-12-03 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Halifax)
Join us on December 3, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., as we partner with Mount Vernon’s Washington Library for a virtual talk with author Tim McGrath about his new book, James Monroe: A Life. Dr. Sara Bon-Harper, Highland’s executive director, will also discuss how recent archeological work is shedding new light on life at Highland. This event will be streamed live on the Highland Facebook page on December 3 at 7:00 p.m. Participants may also view the live stream through StreamYard by registering on the Mount Vernon website.
This event is co-sponsored by George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

Veterans Day at Highland
2020-11-11 11:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax)
On Wednesday, November 11, to honor and thank U.S. veterans, all active duty, former, and retired United States military personnel will receive free admission to James Monroe’s Highland for Veterans Day. There is no need to register in advance, simply present your military ID in the museum shop upon arrival.
*Please note that our annual Veterans Day Commemoration ceremony will not be held this year due to COVID-19 precautions.

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2020-10-25 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax)
On Sunday, October 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!
The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails. All trails guests must register at the outdoor ticket station.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on October 25, from 10am-4pm, only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2020-09-27 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Halifax)
On Sunday, September 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., we invite you and your four legged friends out on the Highland Rustic Trails for a day of doggone good fun!
The Highland Rustic Trails are free and open to the public. All dogs must be leashed. Dog owners are responsible for cleaning up after their animals. Please keep our trails clean so everyone can enjoy their experience on the Highland Rustic Trails. All trails guests must register at the outdoor ticket station.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on September 27, from 10am-4pm, only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

CANCELED: “On the Farm with Mr. Monroe” French and Spanish Enrichment Camp: August Session
2020-08-10 09:00 - 2020-08-14 15:00 (America/Halifax)
Program Canceled
Highland, the home of President James Monroe, in a partnership with the Speak! Language Center, is excited to announce On the Farm with Mr. Monroe! This French and Spanish enrichment camp for children ages 4-10 will be held Monday through Friday, August 10-14, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The camp will focus on the French and Spanish languages and forge the connection between France, Spain, and the legacy of James Monroe. The camp will include daily language lessons, private tours of the house and gardens with scavenger hunts, afternoon historic crafts on the property, period parlor games, nature walks, and stories.
This is the final language enrichment camp of the season. Please check our events page for other dates.
The cost of this event is $350 per student for one week, $650 per student for two weeks, or $925 per student for three weeks.

CANCELED: The Albemarle County Fair at Highland
2020-07-30 16:00 - 2020-08-01 21:00 (America/Halifax)
The Albemarle County Fair is scheduled from Thursday, July 30 through Saturday, August 1 on the grounds of Highland. Fair hours will be 4 to 9 pm on Thursday, July 30, and 10 am to 9 pm on Friday and Saturday, July 31 and August 1. Tickets are $5 per person and free for children under 6 years of age. Cash and credit cards are accepted.
This fun and festive “Old-Time Country Fair” will be a three-day agricultural celebration, complete with exhibits, baked goods, crafts, family entertainment, events, livestock, and grand old-time country fun. In addition to this year’s attractions, the fair, in collaboration with James Monroe’s Highland, will offer demonstrations of historic and cultural significance, including a blacksmith, wool spinning and weaving, and a reproduction button maker.
The Albemarle County Fair Board thanks the community for their interest and continued support and looks forward to sharing and celebrating the best of our rich and lively agricultural community at this year’s fair at James Monroe’s Highland.
James Monroe’s Highland does not permit pets on the property. Leashed service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted.

CANCELED: “On the Farm with Mr. Monroe” French and Spanish Enrichment Camp: Second July Session
2020-07-20 09:00 - 2020-07-24 15:00 (America/Halifax)
Program Canceled
Highland, the home of President James Monroe, in a partnership with the Speak! Language Center, is excited to announce On the Farm with Mr. Monroe! This French and Spanish enrichment camp for children ages 4-10 will be held Monday through Friday, July 20-24, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The camp will focus on the French and Spanish languages and forge the connection between France, Spain, and the legacy of James Monroe. The camp will include daily language lessons, private tours of the house and gardens with scavenger hunts, afternoon historic crafts on the property, period parlor games, nature walks, and stories.
This is the fourth language enrichment camp of the season. Please check our events page for other dates.
The cost of this event is $350 per student for one week, $650 per student for two weeks, or $925 per student for three weeks.

CANCELED: “On the Farm with Mr. Monroe” French and Spanish Enrichment Camp: First July Session
2020-07-13 09:00 - 2020-07-17 15:00 (America/Halifax)
Program Canceled
Highland, the home of President James Monroe, in a partnership with the Speak! Language Center, is excited to announce On the Farm with Mr. Monroe! This French and Spanish enrichment camp for children ages 4-10 will be held Monday through Friday, July 13-17, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The camp will focus on the French and Spanish languages and forge the connection between France, Spain, and the legacy of James Monroe. The camp will include daily language lessons, private tours of the house and gardens with scavenger hunts, afternoon historic crafts on the property, period parlor games, nature walks, and stories.
This is the third language enrichment camp of the season. Please check our events page for other dates.
The cost of this event is $350 per student for one week, $650 per student for two weeks, or $925 per student for three weeks.

ONLINE ONLY: Independence Day Digital Concert and Celebration
2020-07-04 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Halifax)
*** The 2020 Independence Day Concert at Highland will be ONLINE ***
Join us online from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm on July 4th as we enjoy some of the memorable performances by the Heifetz International Music Institute at the Highland Hilltop Pavilion. Heifetz’s classically-inspired ensemble brings a uniquely innovative and expressive musical experience that will appeal to all ages.

Join us at 2pm on July 4th!

*Images courtesy of Gene Runion

Expanding the Narrative at Highland
2020-06-29 18:30 - 19:30 (America/Halifax)
Join us on Monday, June 29, from 6:30-7:30pm, as Dr. Sara Bon-Harper, Executive Director of James Monroe’s Highland, and Ms. Jennifer Stacy, member of Highland’s Descendant Advisory Panel, lead a discussion on their work to represent a multivocal history, one in which many voices combine to tell one set of stories. This event will be moderated by Dr. Louis Nelson, Vice Provost for Academic Outreach and Professor, Architectural History.
Participate Live and Stream
Participate by email Q500@PublicInput.com
Participate by phone: 855-925-2801 Meeting code: 9186

CANCELED: “On the Farm with Mr. Monroe” Spanish Enrichment Camp: Second June Session
2020-06-15 09:00 - 2020-06-19 15:00 (America/Halifax)
Program Canceled
Highland, the home of President James Monroe, in a partnership with the Speak! Language Center, is excited to announce On the Farm with Mr. Monroe! This Spanish enrichment camp for children ages 4-10 will be held Monday through Friday, June 15-19, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The camp will focus on the Spanish language and forge the connection between Spain and the legacy of James Monroe. The camp will include daily language lessons, private tours of the house and gardens with scavenger hunts, afternoon historic crafts on the property, period parlor games, nature walks, and stories.
This is the second language enrichment camp of the season. Please check our events page for other dates.
The cost of this event is $350 per student for one week, $650 per student for two weeks, or $925 per student for three weeks.

CANCELED: “On the Farm with Mr. Monroe” Spanish Enrichment Camp: First June Session
2020-06-08 09:00 - 2020-06-12 15:00 (America/Halifax)
Program Canceled
Highland, the home of President James Monroe, in a partnership with the Speak! Language Center, is excited to announce On the Farm with Mr. Monroe! This Spanish enrichment camp for children ages 4-10 will be held Monday through Friday, June 8-12, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
The camp will focus on the Spanish language and forge the connection between Spain and the legacy of James Monroe. The camp will include daily language lessons, private tours of the house and gardens with scavenger hunts, afternoon historic crafts on the property, period parlor games, nature walks, and stories.
This is the first language enrichment camp of the season. Please check our events page for other dates.
The cost of this event is $350 per student for one week, $650 per student for two weeks, or $925 per student for three weeks.

CANCELED: Annual Highland Sheep Shearing
2020-04-26 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
This event has been canceled.
Highland’s annual sheep shearing will take place on Sunday, April 26 (rain or shine). At 3:00 p.m. Tom Stanley will demonstrate the New Zealand sheep shearing method at this educational, agricultural event. We will also have traditional wool carding and spinning demonstrations for the family from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.
If the weather is favorable, visitors are encouraged to enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds.
Admission to the sheep shearing event is $5 per person. Children under 6 are admitted free. Monroe’s Farm Friends members are admitted FREE OF CHARGE!
About Tom Stanley
Tom Stanley has worked with sheep his entire life, starting with an orphaned lamb when he was 9 years old. He started shearing his own sheep when he was 14 years old. Today, Tom is employed by Virginia Tech as an Agriculture Extension Agent based in Rockbridge County and keeps a small flock of 40 breeding sheep that lamb each April.

CANCELED: Girl Scout Day at Highland
2020-04-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Halifax)
This event has been canceled.
Join us on Saturday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, for Girl Scout Day at James Monroe’s Highland! Experience arts and crafts outdoors at the home of the Fifth President of the United States. Participate in a historic dance workshop, painting, nature photography, and more. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the grounds after the event. An Outdoor Art Creator or Outdoor Art Explorer badge is included with the program fee. Program is available to Brownies and Juniors.
Girls MUST attend with an adult (over 18) who stays with them at the event.
Program Cost: $10 per girl. Free for adult chaperones and tag-a-longs. Pay by check or credit card (call 434-293-8000 for credit card payments).

CANCELED - Historic Tree Walk at Highland
2020-04-03 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Halifax)
This event has been canceled.
Join us on Friday April 3, from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., for a spring walk with the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards! Participants will learn more about Highland’s trees during this free 90-minute walk at James Monroe’s historic property. Highland’s open spaces afford vistas of mature ash, black walnut, maples, oaks, and other native trees. You will also see a hemlock and towering white oak that date to Monroe’s time. Learn how to identify trees in the spring using leaves, bark, twigs, form, and many other features, as well as how Highland trees and tree-ring dating have contributed to historical interpretation.
This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is required. Attendance is limited to 25 participants.

CANCELED - Virginia Festival of the Book
2020-03-22 13:00 (America/Halifax)
This event has been canceled.
In partnership with the 26th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book, Highland will host University of Virginia professor Justene Hill Edwards on Sunday, March 22 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for Class, Church, and Place in Southern Black Communities. Ms. Edwards will moderate a panel featuring William Andrews, author of Slavery and Class in the American South: A Generation of Slave Narrative Testimony 1840-1865, Daniel Thorp, author of Facing Freedom: An African American Community in Virginia From Reconstruction to Jim Crow, and Nicole Myers, author of Turner Soul Liberty: The Evolution of Black Religious Politics in Postemancipation Virginia. The event and parking are free. A book signing will follow the panel discussion and the authors’ books will be for sale in the Highland Museum Shop.
Learn More

Slavery at Highland
2020-02-29 12:00 - 15:00, 2020-02-22 12:00 - 15:00, 2020-02-17 12:00 - 15:00, 2020-02-16 12:00 - 15:00, 2020-02-15 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Halifax)
In honor of Black History Month, the drop-in program Slavery at Highland will be offered on select days in February. Slavery at Highland offers a discussion of historic slavery in the United States with special focus on the men, women, and children enslaved at Highland. Visitors can browse images and historic documents while discussing slavery and its legacies with a specially trained museum interpreter. We invite you to visit and learn more about the past—from a variety of perspectives.
– Included with admission –

American Girl Afternoon Tea
2020-02-08 15:00 - 16:30 (America/Halifax)
*** CANCELLED ***
Bring your American Girl doll to an afternoon tea catered by Harvest Moon at James Monroe’s Highland on Saturday February 8, 2020, from 3:00-4:30 pm. Play period games over tea at your table, then make a Valentine inspired by designs from Monroe family furniture.
The recommended age range for participants is 6-12 years old. Admission to the American Girl Afternoon Tea at James Monroe’s Highland is $25.00 for participants and $25.00 for adult chaperones. Participants must be accompanied by an adult.
Menu
Tea Sandwiches: Egg Salad, Chicken Salad, Cucumber, and Watercress
Fruit and Cheese Skewers
Brownies, Lemon Bars, and Chocolate Chip Cookies

After Hours at Highland with James Monroe (SOLD OUT)
2019-12-28 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Experience Highland after hours through a personally guided tour with James Monroe reenactor Beau Robbins. Throughout the tour, guests will hear firsthand accounts from the American Revolution and Founding Era, and will then have the opportunity to mingle with Monroe over light refreshments following the tour. After Hours with James Monroe will take place Friday December 6, Saturday December 21 (SOLD OUT), and Saturday December 28 (SOLD OUT) from 4:30-6:00 pm. Admission is $28 per guest. Limit 15 guests per tour.
December 28 SOLD OUT

After Hours at Highland with James Monroe (SOLD OUT)
2019-12-21 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Experience Highland after hours through a personally guided tour with James Monroe reenactor Beau Robbins. Throughout the tour, guests will hear firsthand accounts from the American Revolution and Founding Era, and will then have the opportunity to mingle with Monroe over light refreshments following the tour. After Hours with James Monroe will take place Friday December 6, Saturday December 21 (SOLD OUT), and Saturday December 28 (SOLD OUT) from 4:30-6:00 pm. Admission is $28 per guest. Limit 15 guests per tour.
December 21 SOLD OUT

Highland for the Holidays
2019-12-09 11:00 - 2019-12-24 17:00 (America/Halifax)
Experience Highland for the Holidays at the home of President James Monroe. From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, December 9 through Tuesday, December 24, guests will enjoy a self-guided tour of the museum spaces and 1818 Presidential Guesthouse decorated with seasonal greenery and filled with holiday cheer. Highland interpreters will be available to discuss historical events as you explore Highland at your own pace. In honor of our fifth president, admission to Highland will be just $5 during Highland for the Holidays. Highland’s Augmented reality experience is available as a separate purchase. Plan time to complete your holiday list in the Highland Museum shop, featuring Virginia products and the Virginia Artisan Room. Our regular guided tour offerings will resume on December 26.
