In Today's blog, we'll continue to walk you through the newly constructed site to recognize President James Monroe at the site of his birthplace in northern Virginia. Today's blog will show you the visitor's center and take you on the first step of his life's journey so you can get to know him!(Photo: Tom and Tyler at the Monroe Birthplace site)
ABOUT THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED PARK AND VISITOR CENTER - The Park & Museum is supported by volunteers, through the stewardship of the James Monroe Memorial Foundation.
The Visitor Center was closed when we arrived on April 24th, so we can't tell you what's inside. That's because it won't open until Memorial Day (end of May)
The Visitor Center will open on Saturdays & Sundays from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm during the Summer
, from Memorial Day weekend Labor Day weekend. The Park, with its picnic area, is always open for private recreational activities during daylight hours.
(Photo: The James Monroe visitor center. Credit: R.G.)
THE GROUNDS - From the Visitor Center, you can see the reconstruction of James Monroe's childhood home (which is actually in the front part of the park, and the Visitor Center is set back from the house.
HISTORIC WALK- The Visitor Center is the beginning of a long paved walk into the woods, where carved stone rectangular sculptures mark different years in Monroe's life. At each marker, are granite markers on the path that highlight Monroe during different years. (Photo: The inside of the Visitor Center - Credit: James Monroe VC,: https://www.facebook.com/events/2733252396769470/ )
MONROE'S EARLY YEARS -- According to Whitehouse.gov: James Monroe was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1758, Monroe attended the College of William and Mary, fought with distinction in the Continental Army, and practiced law in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
As a youthful politician, he joined the anti-Federalists in the Virginia Convention which ratified the Constitution.
(Photo: Dash decided he wanted to highlight Monroe's 1790s achievements)
MONROE IN THE 1790s - In 1790, an advocate of Jeffersonian policies, was elected United States Senator. As Minister to France in 1794-1796, he displayed strong sympathies for the French cause; later, with Robert R. Livingston, he helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.
MONROE AS PRESIDENT - Whitehouse.gov said Monroe's ambition and energy, together with the backing of President Madison, made him the Republican choice for the Presidency in 1816. With little Federalist opposition, he easily won re-election in 1820.
Monroe made unusually strong Cabinet choices, naming a Southerner, John C. Calhoun, as Secretary of War, and a northerner, John Quincy Adams, as Secretary of State. Only Henry Clay’s refusal kept Monroe from adding an outstanding Westerner.
"ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS"- Early in his administration, Monroe undertook a goodwill tour. At Boston, his visit was hailed as the beginning of an “Era of Good Feelings.” Unfortunately these “good feelings” did not endure, although Monroe, his popularity undiminished, followed nationalist policies.
Across the facade of nationalism, ugly sectional cracks appeared. A painful economic depression undoubtedly increased the dismay of the people of the Missouri Territory in 1819 when their application for admission to the Union as a slave state failed. An amended bill for gradually eliminating slavery in Missouri precipitated two years of bitter debate in Congress.
NEXT: The Missouri Compromise
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