Thursday, July, 10, 2008-Charlottesville, VA

We decided to extend our visit at the KOA for several more days. The site we were in, site thirty, was reserved for Friday, so we had to move to another site. The new site, number twenty-eight, was actually adjacent to our original site. We waited at our campsite until 10:00 when the camper at number twenty-eight left. We moved into that site and had lunch.

After lunch, we drove to Ash Lawn Highlands for the afternoon. James Monroe was the builder and owner of Ash Lawn Highlands. He chose this site to be close to his friend, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson actually selected this site for Monroe and had his slave craftsmen prepare the site and start construction prior to Monroe's arrival.

The building was a post and beam home typical of the time, and much smaller than Monticello. Ash Lawn Highlands was a working farm and plantation. The docent for the tour was extremely knowledgeable and had a wry sense of humor. He told many stories about the family and events that occurred here.  He told us that during the Revolutionary War, Monroe was shot very close to his heart and it severed an artery. If the surgeon had not been at his side, he would have bled to death on the battlefield.  The most interesting part of the tour were the stories that he told about James Monroe.  Several times James Monroe was recalled from his post or fired by the presidents, who were also his friends.  In fact, Thomas Jefferson fired or recalled him from his post as ambassador to France.

After the hour long tour, we walked the grounds and took pictures. Here, as at Monticello,  interior photographs were not allowed.