James Monroe House
You are here
Oak Hill (James Monroe House)
1820–1823, 1870s, 1922, 1949. U.S. 15 (west side, 8.2 miles south of Leesburg)
-
Oak Hill (James Monroe House) (Virginia Division of Historic Resources)
Easily observable from the road, Oak Hill dominates the landscape with its two-story Roman Doric pentastyle portico. James Monroe began construction of the house while he was president and then retired here to live until 1830, a year before his death. Both Monroe's close association with Jefferson and the similarity of the portico to Jefferson's work have given rise to speculation that Jefferson played a role, but there is little evidence. Similarly, William Thornton and James Hoban knew Monroe, but again the evidence of involvement is inconclusive. Benjamin Henry Latrobe has also been associated with the design, but that is even more doubtful. William Benton, a local builder, constructed the house of red brick with white stucco and wood trim. It was modified in 1870 and greatly enlarged in 1922, and the interior was modified in 1949. A large formal garden is in front of the portico.
Writing Credits
If SAH Archipedia has been useful to you, please consider supporting it.
SAH Archipedia tells the story of the United States through its buildings, landscapes, and cities. This freely available resource empowers the public with authoritative knowledge that deepens their understanding and appreciation of the built environment. But the Society of Architectural Historians, which created SAH Archipedia with University of Virginia Press, needs your support to maintain the high-caliber research, writing, photography, cartography, editing, design, and programming that make SAH Archipedia a trusted online resource available to all who value the history of place, heritage tourism, and learning.