Our Sites
James Monroe's Birthplace
James Monroe's Tomb "The Birdcage"
James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library
Fort Monroe
James Monroe’s Birthplace
James Monroe was born on this site on April 28, 1758, to Spence and Elizabeth Jones Monroe. Over a century earlier his paternal great-great-grandfather, Andrew Monroe, emigrated to America from Scotland and patented a large section of land in Westmoreland County, Virginia. It was on a tract of this land that his birthplace stood, a modest two-story house surrounded by farm- and wetlands. In addition to the farm, the family grew tobacco and they maintained an apple and peach orchard plantation. Nearly a third of James Monroe’s life was connected to this property.
Birthplace Park Management
Birthplace Superintendent: Shelby Chandler
Deputy Superintendent: Dr. Leonard Levin
Operations Coordinator / Chief Docent: Ann Gwynn
Education Coordinator: Dr. Theresa Snell
Communications Coordinator: Krystal Eldred
Buildings & Grounds Coordinator: Dr. Leonard Levin
Presentation Coordinator: Maria Everett, Esq
Security & Safety Coordinator: Thomas Moncure
Birthplace Park Personnel
Chief Docent Emeritus: Bucky Doerr
Birthplace Museum Curator: Sumpter Priddy
Birthplace Park Archaeologist: Susan Church
Master Tradesman: Daniel Mayhew
Chief Gardner: Patrizia Mayhew
Educational Program Instructors
Dr. Theresa Snell
Les Greeley
Angela Self
Craft & Resource Support
Donald Foley
Saara Prezbylek
Robert Breitenbach
Angela Self
Allen Snell
Material Content & Special Projects
Dr. Christopher Tripp
Seth Roderick
Michael Dove
“The James Monroe Birthplace Park & Museum is a +70-year project of the James Monroe Memorial Foundation, which was established by the descendants of President James Monroe. Through the charitable contributions and generous donations of everyday people both here and abroad, we are now beginning to see the culmination of this project with the establishment of the Visitors Center and the completion of the Birthplace Home with the park’s various activity trails. On behalf of the Foundation, I wish to thank every person who, of their own accord, continues to perpetuate the legacy of this great man, James Monroe.”