Ash Lawn-Highland

Ash Lawn-Highland is an historic house museum, 535-acre working farm, and performing arts site in Albemarle County, Virginia. President James Monroe and his wife, Elizabeth Kortright Monroe of New York, owned Ash Lawn-Highland from 1793 to 1826 and made it their official residence from 1799 to 1823. After the Monroes' death, the name of their farm was changed from "Highland" to "Ash Lawn"; today both names are used.

Ash Lawn-Highland was opened for public visitation in 1931 by philanthropist Jay Winston and Helen Lambert Johns. Upon his death in late 1974, Johns bequeathed Ash Lawn-Highland to the College of William and Mary, alma mater of James Monroe. Accepting the Johns bequest "to operate this property as a historic shrine for the education of the general public," the College initiated new programs in restoration and interpretation at Ash Lawn-Highland.

We who work at Ash Lawn-Highland are involved in the College of William and Mary's continuing program to preserve and restore the special character of James and Elizabeth Monroe's estate, Highland.

Ash Lawn-Highland continues the tradition begun by the Monroes of welcoming friends, neighbors, dignitaries, and visitors. It is the scene of meetings, parties, picnics, a summer music festival, and a variety of special events. It continues to provide an authentic view of nineteenth-century life for our many other visitors through examples of Early American and Victorian architecture, decorative arts from those periods, and craft demonstrations on the grounds.

Hours of Operation

April - October 
9 am-6 pm
November - March
11 am-5 pm

Closed Thanksgiving day, Christmas day and 
New Year's day

General Admission

Adults $12.00 
Seniors (60 and older) $11.00 
AAA-Members (with ID) $11.00 
Children (6-11) $6.00 
Local Residents: $5.00
(Includes the counties of 
Albemarle, Augusta, Buckingham, 
Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, 
Nelson, Orange and Rockingham)

Presidents' Pass for Individuals
Adults: $31.00 Nov. - Feb. 
$36.00 Mar. - Oct.

Adult Group Admission 
(Minimum 15)

Monroe House Tour 
College Students, seniors, or adults
$11.00