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In the News
 Museum director Scott Harris was interviewed for this story from WHYY's NewsWorks about the Crossing of the Delaware, which took place on 25 December 1776:
"Thousands of people will gather at Washington Crossing Historic Park Tuesday to witness the re-enactment of George Washington's daring Delaware River Crossing of 1776 that turned the tide of the American Revolution. But it just may have been a lesser known crossing by another future American president hours earlier that made it all possible." Read the rest of the story. |
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Inauguration Trivia
President Obama's inauguration this month marks only the second time in the country's history that three presidents in a row have served two terms. It hasn't happened since Monroe was elected to his second term in 1820, completing the Jefferson-Madison-Monroe run!
Monroe's first inaugural ceremonies took place on March 4, 1817, on a platform outside the temporary Brick Capitol; he was the first president to be inaugurated outdoors. According to the website of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the plan had called for the ceremony to be held in the House chamber, but a feud erupted between the House and Senate over what chairs would be used, so it was moved outdoors!
His second inauguration was held on March 5, 1821. It was the first inaugural ceremony that was moved from the then-customary date of March 4 because that day fell on a Sunday in 1821 (this has happened six other times over the years, and is also the case this year). The event was moved inside to the House of Representatives chamber because of a snowstorm. This ceremony was the first held in the U.S. Capitol following its reconstruction after the British raid on Washington, DC in 1814.
Read the complete text of Monroe's inaugural addresses. |
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Monroe Descendant Visits Ancestral Home of Clan Munro
James Monroe descendant Sandra Stellmann visited Foulis Castle in Scotland, the seat of Clan Munro for over 800 years, and sent us this picture:
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Stellmann and Sir Hector Munro, the current chief of Clan Munro.
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Winter Hours
During the months of January and February, the museum will close at 4 p.m. daily. We open at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday, and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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