Ash Lawn–Highland
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Highland
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Ash Lawn-Highland. Note: The yellow wing was added on by later owners.
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| Location | Southeast of Charlottesville off VA 53, near Simeon, Virginia |
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| Coordinates | 37°58′46″N 78°27′16″W / 37.97944°N 78.45444°WCoordinates: 37°58′46″N 78°27′16″W / 37.97944°N 78.45444°W |
| Area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Built | 1799 |
| Architect | James Monroe |
| NRHP Reference # | 73001990 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 14, 1973 |
| Designated VLR | January 16, 1973 |
Ash Lawn–Highland, located near Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, and adjacent to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, was the estate of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States. Purchased in 1793, Monroe and his family permanently settled on the property in 1799 and lived at Ash Lawn–Highland for twenty-four years. Personal debt forced Monroe to sell the plantation in 1825. Before and after selling Highland, Monroe spent much of his time living at Oak Hill.
President Monroe simply called his home "Highland." It did not acquire the additional name of "Ash Lawn" until after his death.
The estate is now owned, operated and maintained by Monroe's alma mater, the College of William and Mary.
Encouraged by his close friend, Thomas Jefferson, Monroe purchased a deed for one thousand acres (4 km²) of land adjacent to Monticello in 1793 for an equal number of pounds from the Carter family. The land formerly had been a part of the Blenheim Plantation owned by Champe Carter. Six years later, Monroe moved his family onto the plantation, where they resided for the next twenty-four years. In 1800, Monroe described his home as:
One wooden dwelling house, the walls filled with brick. One story high, 40 by 30 ft. Wooden Wing one storey high, 34 by 18 ft.
Over the next 16 years, Monroe continued to add onto his home, adding stone cellars and a second story to the building. He also expanded his land holdings, which at their greatest included over 3,500 acres (14 km²). However, by 1815, Monroe increasingly turned to selling his land to pay for debt. By 1825, he was forced to sell his home and the property.
Highland was a thriving plantation employing the labor of 30-40 slaves. Their housing no longer exists. Quarters for field hands were at some distance from the main house, while the domestic slaves lived closer to their master.
Edward O. Goodwin purchased Highland from Monroe at twenty dollars an acre and often referred to the property as "North Blenheim." At the time of the purchase, Monroe described Highland as containing:
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Wikipedia