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Presidents' Day Promotion
 In honor of Monroe and all our presidents, the James Monroe Museum will be giving away a free, edible treat to all visitors on Monday, February 20, during our regular open hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The surprise is free with the price of admission to the museum ($5/adult; $1/child; senior, group, and AAA discounts available).
If you have the day off from school or work, visit us!
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James Monroe's Valentine
 | | Elizabeth Kortright Monroe, by John Vanderlyn (date unknown). |
On February 16, 1786, 28-year-old James Monroe wed 17-year-old Elizabeth Kortright, the daughter of a New York merchant.
It was quite a catch for the lanky young politician - Elizabeth and her sisters were described as being so beautiful and charming that on a visit to the theater one evening they made so lovely an appearance as to "depopulate all the other boxes of all the genteel male people therein" (William Grayson to Monroe, 1785).
Later, as First Lady, Elizabeth maintained her reputation as a woman of fashion and elegance. Louisa Catherine Adams wrote: "She was dressed in white and gold made in the highest style of fashion and moved not like a Queen (for that is an unpardonable word in this country) but like a goddess" (to John Adams, 1818).
The Monroes' marriage was long and happy. In his autobiography, James Monroe wrote of his wife "...it was improbable for any female to have fulfilled all the duties of the partner of such cares, and of a wife and parent, with more attention, delicacy and propriety than she has done."
This February, let's remember James Monroe's Valentine, the lovely Elizabeth Kortright Monroe!
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Curator's Corner
By Jarod Kearney  The curatorial department has several exciting projects in the works. We are updating condition reports for the collection and objects are being identified for conservation. We plan to set up a new "featured object" display to highlight artifacts on a rotating basis - this will provide an opportunity to display some of our more interesting, rarely-seen artifacts, as well as to present returning visitors with new content.
We are also developing a two-day summer camp for kids. This will involve "life in a Revolutionary war camp," hands-on historical activities, interpretive presentations, and lots of fun! Stay tuned for more details. |
