Highland

Musical guest Timothy Seaman to perform at Highland
2024-10-20 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | James Monroe’s Highland, 2050 James Monroe's Highland, Charlottesville, VA, 22902
Join us from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 20, for a special performance in the Highland Museum Shop by featured musical guest Timothy Seaman. Enjoy the soothing sound of the hammered dulcimer while browsing our selection of locally made crafts in the Highland Artisan Room. Timothy will be signing CDs at this free, public event.
Check out Timothy’s musical magic in the video below:
Watch Now

Community Journaling on the Highland Trails
2024-11-02 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join Highland Hiker, trail guru, and nature fanatic Carla Anderson for a creative journaling experience on the Blue Trail on Saturday, November 2, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you’re looking to slow down and practice a different way of engaging with nature, this walk is for you!

In “metro poetry,” writers compose one line of text at each metro stop, using the time in between to look, listen, and reflect. We’ll let that idea guide us as we each record a line of observation at set stops on the trail. At the end of our hike, we’ll assemble these observations into booklets to be posted at one of the sign stations along the trail. Your observations will be available for future Highland hikers.
The cost of this guided journaling hike is $9 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Journaling materials will be provided!

Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.
Purchase Tickets

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2024-11-03 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
On Sunday, November 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 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.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on November 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Home Educator Day at Highland
2024-11-04 09:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Open to ALL Students, Families, and Educators!
James Monroe’s Highland will host Home Educator Day on Monday, November 4, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Families will enjoy a walk-through of the presidential Guesthouse and exhibit spaces, an opportunity to meet James and Elizabeth Monroe, and many more educational activities!

9:00-11:00 AM: Highland trail journal creation station
9:00-11:00 AM: A special barnyard guest, courtesy of Virginia Cooperative Extension
9:00 AM-1:00 PM: Historic Handwriting with Elizabeth Monroe
9:00 AM-3:00 PM: Historic photo booth and costume try-on
9:00 AM-3:00 PM: Historic yard games and crafts
9:00-11:00 AM & 12:00-2:00 PM: Paper Marbling
10:00-11:00 AM: Wool processing and spinning demonstration
11:00 AM-3:00 PM: “Meet the Neighbors” nature gallery and animal finding activity
11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Cross-stitch sampler-making

And more!
Highland’s Home Educator Day is open to all students and families: home school, public, or private. All are welcome! Admission is $10.00 for participants and adult chaperones. Children under 4 and Monroe’s Farm Friends are FREE (Farm Friends do not have to register, simply bring your Farm Friends card on the day of the event). We invite you to bring a picnic and spend the day at the home of our nation’s 5th president!
Purchase Tickets

Veterans Day at Highland
2024-11-11 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
On Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2024, Highland will present a day of learning to honor those who have served our country. We invite you to celebrate the veterans in your life by learning more about the many ways the military and the people in it have shaped our nation’s history and culture. Stop by education stations throughout the day to explore:

Military and civilian fashion
Veterans of Highland gallery and community wall
Animal service in the military
Code-breaking and cryptography
And of course, meet Highland’s original veteran James Monroe

Admission is free for active U.S. military members and veterans. All other visitors may purchase $10 discounted General Admission tickets. Children six and under and Farm Friends members receive free admission (Farm Friends do not have to register, simply bring your Farm Friends card on the day of the event). Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase Tickets

Let's Take a Hike
2024-11-16 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Halifax)
Join Highland Hiker and trail fanatic Carla Anderson on a guided hike Highland’s Red Trail on Saturday, November 16, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This will be a vigorously paced four (+/-) mile hike with some steep inclines and moderate elevation gain. Be prepared to get your heart rate up! Participants will meet in front of the Highland Museum Shop at 10:00 a.m., have a quick round of introductions, and get going!

The cost of this guided hike is $5 per person. Purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must.
Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.

Purchase Tickets

Small Business Saturday 2024
2024-11-30 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Featuring a 20% Museum Shop Discount*!
Saturday, November 30, is Small Business Saturday! Do your holiday shopping at the Highland Museum Shop and support our small local business. We have a wide selection of books, souvenirs, hand-crafted goods, and specialty food items. All merchandise, except for consignment art and donations, will be discounted 20%.

*excluding consignment art and donations

Winter Open House
2024-12-07 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join us Saturday, December 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., for a FREE Winter Open House at Highland! Participants can explore Highland’s newly-opened Community Research Center and Archaeology Lab and have coffee and conversation with an archaeologist. At 11:00 a.m. Highland executive director, Sara Bon-Harper, will give a presentation on Highland archaeology. Guests can also visit the presidential Guesthouse and other exhibits, including the new A Window to a New America exhibition. As a special treat, local bagpiper Cooper Wamsley will perform outdoors to complete the celebration of a Highland holiday.
Access to this special open house is FREE for all participants. Please use the link below and select 10:00 a.m. reservation time on December 7th and plan to attend any or all of the events:
Register Today!

Holly Days at Highland
2024-12-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Highland and the Virginia Cooperative Extension invite you to Holly Days at Highland, a morning of crafts and holiday cheer on December 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participants will enjoy warm beverages and a festive, family-oriented atmosphere. At this holiday-themed event, participants are invited to:

Create a seasonal centerpiece while learning about native Virginia plants
Craft a felt ornament and try their hand at wool felting
Stop by the colonial games table and make a set of historic toys to take home
Enjoy holiday reading and coloring activities

Admission for adults and children is $6 per person. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Please register using the link below:
Purchase Tickets

Evening Holiday Tour: December 19
2024-12-19 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
SOLD OUT!
Take advantage of a small-group evening experience at Highland this December. Visitors will enjoy a curator-led, exclusive tour of the 1818 Presidential Guesthouse and exhibits amid festive holiday decorations and music. Wear your holiday best for a little extra cheer!
Tickets of $150 include admission for up to 6 people. Tour size will be limited to maintain an intimate atmosphere.

Evening Holiday Tour: December 20
2024-12-20 16:30 - 18:00 (America/New_York)

Evening Holiday Tour: December 26
2024-12-26 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Halifax)
Take advantage of a small-group evening experience at Highland this December. Visitors will enjoy a curator-led, exclusive tour of the 1818 Presidential Guesthouse and exhibits amid festive holiday decorations and music. Wear your holiday best for a little extra cheer!
Tickets of $150 include admission for up to 6 people. Tour size will be limited to maintain an intimate atmosphere. Follow the link below to make your reservation:
Purchase Tickets

Evening Holiday Tour: December 27
2024-12-27 16:30 - 18:00 (America/Halifax)
SOLD OUT
Take advantage of a small-group evening experience at Highland this December. Visitors will enjoy a curator-led, exclusive tour of the 1818 Presidential Guesthouse and exhibits amid festive holiday decorations and music. Wear your holiday best for a little extra cheer!
Tickets of $150 include admission for up to 6 people. Tour size will be limited to maintain an intimate atmosphere.

"You Don't Need a Green Thumb" Indoor Plant Workshop
2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Want to grow plants successfully in your home? Join us at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 15, as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for an indoor plant workshop. Indoor gardening has been “growing” in popularity over the last several years. Learn how to grow plants indoors to beautify your surroundings. By taking into account environmental factors you will be well on your way to long term “plant parent” success. We will focus on plant selection, repotting, containers, and ways to maximize your use of greenery indoors.
This event is free and open to the public. Click on the link below to register:
Registration

Green Gathering Book Club: Meet the Neighbors
2025-03-08 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Calling all tree huggers, forest friends, and book worms! If you are interested in connecting with fellow nature-lovers over a good book, join us for Highland’s Green Gathering Book Club.

This quarter we will be discussing the ideas in Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World by science journalist and animal lover Brandon Keim. Keim’s book explores the inner lives and intelligence of animals and suggests how thinking of our local non-human inhabitants as “neighbors” can lead to more compassionate thinking about our environment.

This event is free and open to the public. Designed for participants aged 12 and up. Participants will meet at the Highland Museum Shop and walk as a group to our comfy conference room for the book club meeting.

Registration
Promptly after the book discussion, participants who are interested are invited to join Carla for a group hike on the Highland Rustic Trails. This 4 mile hike will take you on the Mountain Trail (red loop) and will include some of the newest sections of trail. Expect a little bit of elevation gain as we hike the gentle slopes of Highland’s “backyard.” This hike is for moderately experienced hikers. Participants are asked to wear appropriate hiking attire, including sturdy footwear, and bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-Than-Human World can be purchased through your local bookstore or via Amazon. Want to be extra green? Check out the book from your local library branch!

Virtual Program First Family: George Washington’s Heirs and the Making of America
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Tune in on March 12, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for a virtual conversation with historian and author Cassandra Good as she discusses her latest book, a vivid account of the lives of Washington’s step-grandchildren, the Custises, and their complicated roles in American history. First Family explores the interplay of history, class, slavery, and legacy in both the concept of “family” and in the shaping of American identity.
Cassandra Good is Associate Professor of History at Marymount University. She previously served as an editor at the Papers of James Monroe. She is the author of many popular and scholarly articles as well as two books: Founding Friendships: Friendships Between Men & Women in the Early American Republic and First Family: George Washington’s Heirs and the Making of America.
This virtual program is free and open to the public. Please follow the link below to register:
Registration

Eliza's True Story
2025-03-18 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
In her new biography, author and Highland interpreter Barbara VornDick dramatically adds to the previously limited historical knowledge about Eliza and the tragic circumstances of her death in Paris in 1840. Eliza’s story is the result of years of dedicated archival research. The author is also part of a team working to repatriate Eliza’s remains from Père-Lachaise in Paris to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. The reburial alongside Eliza’s parents, James Monroe and Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, is expected to occur in 2025.
Join us at Highland on March 18 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. as VornDick shares her fascinating journey into the realm of historical research and how the discovery of archival documents on both sides of the Atlantic has illuminated new information about Eliza’s life.
This event will take place at Highland in the lower level of the Event Barn. Admission is free and open to the public. Click on the link below to register:
Registration

Virginia Festival of the Book, The Birds that Audubon Missed
2025-03-23 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Highland, in partnership with the Virginia Festival of the Book, will host Kenn Kaufman to discuss his book The Birds that Audubon Missed with Adrienne Ghaly, University of Virginia assistant professor of English, on Sunday, March 23 at 1:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
Learn More

Prepping and Planning Your Vegetable Garden
2025-03-30 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on March 30, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., as we welcome the Piedmont Master Gardeners for a spring gardening workshop on “Prepping and Planning Your Vegetable Garden.” Participants will learn the basics of garden planning, including soil testing and seed starting, then apply these skills with a hands-on project in Highland’s exhibition garden.
This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Please register below to reserve your place in the class. Registration closes at 5 p.m. March 29 or when the workshop is full.

Registration

Backpacking 101
2025-04-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Curious about backpacking but don’t know where to start? Join Highland trail guru Carla Anderson on Saturday, April 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a beginner-friendly backpacking class where you’ll learn essential skills, gear basics, and how to confidently hit the trail. Whether you’re planning your first overnight or just want to feel more prepared, this class will set you up for success!
The Backpacking 101 event will be held at Highland’s Hilltop Pavilion. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited to 15 individuals. Please sign up using the link below:
Registration
Promptly after the backpacking class, participants who are interested are invited to join Carla for a group hike on the Highland Rustic Trails. This 4 mile hike will take you on the Mountain Trail (red loop) and will include some of the newest sections of trail. Expect a little bit of elevation gain as we hike the gentle slopes of Highland’s “backyard.” This hike is for moderately experienced hikers. Participants are asked to wear appropriate hiking attire, including sturdy footwear, and bring a water bottle, bug spray, and sunscreen.

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-04-06 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
On Sunday, April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 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.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on April 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Metro Journaling on the Highland Trails
2025-04-19 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Join Highland Hiker, trail guru, and nature fanatic Carla Anderson for a creative journaling experience on the Blue Trail on Saturday, April 19, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If you’re looking to slow down and practice a different way of engaging with nature, this walk is for you!

In “metro poetry,” writers compose one line of text at each metro stop, using the time in between to look, listen, and reflect. We’ll let that idea guide us as we stop at set points during the walk to record a line of thought or an observation we have made in a portable trail journal.
The cost of this guided journaling hike is $5 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Journaling materials will be provided!

Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.
Registration

Annual Highland Sheep Shearing
2025-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Highland’s annual sheep shearing will take place on Sunday, April 27 (rain or shine), at 2:00 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 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to enjoy a picnic lunch on the grounds.
Admission to the sheep shearing event is $6 per person. Children under 6 are admitted free. Monroe’s Farm Friends members are admitted FREE OF CHARGE (email info@highland.org to make a reservation)!
Purchase Tickets
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.

James Monroe's Birthday Special Pricing
2025-04-28 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
In celebration of James Monroe’s Birthday, Highland general admission tickets for museum visits on April 28 are only $10 per person (kids six and under are free)! Follow the link below to purchase tickets:
Purchase General Admission Tickets

William & Mary’s Highland: Rediscovering the Past, Shaping the Future (Virtual Presentation)
2025-04-28 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
As the inaugural event in the celebration of William & Mary’s 50 years of stewardship of Highland, Executive Director Sara Bon-Harper will speak about the historic house’s incredible story of rediscovery, the direction and ethos of initiatives at the site, and rich collaborations with the university community. Highland’s academic collaborations will be explored further in a series of virtual and in-person talks in September, October, and November 2025.
All are welcome at this April 28 program and future installations in the 50th anniversary series planned and hosted by the William & Mary Charlottesville-Highland Alumni Chapter. Please register to attend this free virtual talk:
Registration

CANCELLED: Color Wheel Trail Walk
2025-05-03 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
CANCELLED
Explore nature’s palette through journaling and the color wheel on Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with this mindful 2-mile trail walk along the Blue Pasture Trail. Highland trail guru Carla Anderson will guide participants through observations of how colors shift with light, texture, and season, inviting the chance to slow down and tune in to the senses. No artistic experience is needed—just a sense of curiosity and a willingness to see nature in a new way!
The cost of this guided walk is $5 per person. Participants must purchase tickets in advance using the link below. This walk is designed for participants aged 12 and up and is limited to fifteen individuals. Appropriate hiking shoes, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen are a must. Color wheels will be provided; participants are encouraged to bring their own journals.
Please note that pets are not allowed on the trails except on designated Highland Rustic Trails Dog Days (visit https://highland.org/events/ for upcoming events). Service animals, as defined by the ADA, are always permitted.

Musical guest Timothy Seaman to perform at Highland
2025-05-03 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, for a special performance in the Highland Museum Shop by featured musical guest Timothy Seaman. Enjoy the soothing sound of the hammered dulcimer while browsing our selection of locally made crafts in the Highland Artisan Room. Timothy will be signing CDs at this free, public event.
Check out Timothy’s musical magic in the video below:

Highland Rustic Trails Dog Day
2025-05-04 09:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
On Sunday, May 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 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.
*Please note that while dogs will be allowed on the Highland Rustic Trails on May 4, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., only service animals, as defined by the ADA, are permitted in the ticketed museum area.
Highland Rustic Trails

Film Screening: The Piccirilli Factor
2025-05-10 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Join us at Highland on Saturday, May 10, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. for a free screening of The Piccirilli Factor, a documentary by Eduardo Montes-Bradley. This film explores the lives and contributions of the Piccirilli family, Italian sculptors who, after settling in New York City in 1888, founded the largest and most prolific marble carving studio in America. The film highlights the role of Attilio Piccirilli, who carved the marble sculpture of James Monroe that stands at Highland.
The screening is free and open to the public. It will be held in the lower level of the Highland Event Barn, followed by a discussion with Mr. Montes-Bradley. Follow the link below to register for this free event.
Register for Free

Native Plant Swap
2025-05-18 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Highland welcomes you to native plant swap with the Piedmont Master Gardeners on Sunday, May 18th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This is a free “bring-a-plant, take-a-plant” swap. Attendees can exchange pest-free plants for a variety of other plants for summer gardens. Seeds, non-native/non-invasive plants and vegetables, pots, and garden implements may also be swapped. While supplies last, there will be extra plants available for swappers to take home. Attendees can stop by the Master Gardener help desk for tips on native alternatives to non-native plants, and to learn how to identify and remove invasive plants from their gardens.
The Native Plant Swap will be held in the Highland visitor parking lot. This event is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary.
Remember, pests are a part of gardening life: please inspect your plants before sharing and swap at your own risk!
