Virginia, Mother of Presidents: Seven Historic Sites

Hotel check-in: Available from 3:00 p.m. Program Registration: After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Your program materials will be sent to you a few days before the program, digitally, through your roadscholar.org account. This includes your program itinerary, any related handouts, and restaurant/free time suggestions. Please plan to print them out and bring along to the program, utilize the hotel's business center to access them, or view them on your own personal electronic device. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Travel will be by bus unless noted otherwise. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful, rewarding, and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

In a private dining room at the hotel, enjoy a dinner buffet.

In our opening lecture, a local expert will give us a comparative focus on the eight U.S. presidents who were born in Virginia with a special emphasis on the five who were most consequential to our history. The personal strengths and weaknesses of each as a leader will be discussed as will the singular position each holds in our history. The importance of the interactions between the men will also be emphasized.” Continue getting to know your fellow participants, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We board our bus for the 2.5-hour trip to Mount Vernon. En route, we will view “Pursuit of Honor” — a film that follows Washington as he matures from volatile young man through his military career in two wars to becoming the first President of the United States, stature as Father of His Country, and back home to his beloved Mount Vernon. Consider the many enterprises in which Washington engaged, including the crops he grew, the livestock he raised, the grain that was milled and the whiskey that was distilled, even the very profitable fishery he ran. Learn what this riverside enterprise tells us about the determined Virginian who became “First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Upon arrival, we will explore the Reynolds Museum and Education Center, a new Museum that contains 25 theaters and galleries and more than 500 original artifacts that detail the storied life of our nation's first great hero. The Museum includes interactive displays, a major movie, short films produced by The History Channel, and high-tech, immersive experiences. Three life-size models created by a forensic anthropologist present Washington from his teen year to maturity.

The Group Leader will provide vouchers for the Mount Vernon food court where you can choose what you like from fare such as salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, pizza, a variety of drinks, and sweet treats.

We will explore the mansion with a knowledgeable Mount Vernon expert to gain an understanding and appreciation of the family's wealth and status evidenced in the decoration, furnishings, and numerous original possessions. We will also have a special private tour with an expert guide to learn about the enslaved people of Mount Vernon. You will then have some free time for personal independent exploration through the grounds. Washington's beloved estate includes four different gardens, the tombs of George and Martha, and a working farm with a recreation of his famous 16-sided barn.

At a local restaurant en route back to Charlottesville

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Thomas Jefferson had long been seen as one of America’s most important Founders and the very author of American independence. He wrote the “mission statement” for America when he declared that “all men are created equal.” Cities, counties, schools, and universities have all been named “Jefferson” to honor his contributions to our nation. In recent years, however, his legacy has been seriously questioned in large part because he participated in the foul institution of American slavery, owning over 600 people during his lifetime. With a an expert, we'll take a serious look at the contradiction between Jefferson's political philosophy and his personal life and together we'll answer the question, what does a wealthy, white, slave-owning aristocrat have to teach us about the nature of American leadership, especially political leadership? Afterward, we'll board our motorcoach for a field trip to Highland, once the home of James Monroe. This is a small, homey dwelling in contrast to the stately mansions of Monroe's friends and neighbors. Recent archaeology has determined that the current structure was a guest residence and that Monroe's home was a much larger nearby building that no longer exists. Information on these finds will be provided during the visit. Learn how the existing house has evolved through the centuries with different owners. Imagine participating in the Monroe tradition of welcoming friends, neighbors, and dignitaries. Stroll the grounds to see the gardens and ash tree-lined entrance while taking in spectacular views of the surrounding mountains

At historic Michie Tavern, journey back to the 18th century with a traditional Bill of Fare including fried chicken, black eyed peas, cornbread, and much more (good Southern cooking!) . This tavern founded in 1784 by Scotsman William Michie (rhymes with sticky) was a social center of the community.

Our motor coach next takes us to Jefferson’s amazing home, Monticello, a UNESCO World Heritage site. If you knew nothing else about Jefferson and then visited Monticello, you would recognize the man as a genius. The house and gardens were designed, redesigned, built, and rebuilt over more than 40 years. Today, it is considered an “autobiographical masterpiece.” Led by an expert, we will walk through this exceptional mansion and see the architecture Jefferson favored as well as some of the many innovative contrivances he devised. The furnishings, art, books, gadgets, and objects such as the 7-day clock and the alcove bed, reveal Jefferson’s unique and inquiring mind. It is astonishing to comprehend that one man conceived all of this. Leaving the house, we will have some time for independent exploration to walk through the extensive kitchen and ornamental gardens as well as experience the Mulberry Row tour where you can hear about the lives of some of the enslaved peoples and families. On the way back down from the hilltop, you will be able to observe the Jefferson family cemetery where we can see what he had carved onto his memorial stone.

In our private dining room at the hotel.

Having visited his home, what could be a better way to end the day than with a conversation with one of the Founding Fathers? A very convincing historical interpreter gives you a first person perspective on James Monroe and his celebrated friends of the Virginia Piedmont in “A Visit with Colonel Monroe.”

At the hotel.

Engage in a detailed study of James Madison, revered as the Father of the Constitution, including his co-authorship of the Federalist Papers and career of public service. Connect the President to his magnificent home as it grew and changed with the needs of his family. Learn the details of the life enjoyed by him and his delightful wife Dolley, heroine of the burning of the White House during the War of 1812. We will then head out via motorcoach to Madison's home, Montpelier. Our visit includes a special presentation, "Highlights of Montpelier"; guided walk of about an hour with a lot of standing time through select rooms of the restored mansion & grounds. The home was owned for over 120 years by the Madison family and you will learn of the three stages of construction during their tenure as well as the various renovations completed by succeeding owners, including the famous DuPont family. The restoration of the house itself took place from 2003-2008 and efforts are now underway to furnish it to reflect its occupation by James and Dolley Madison after his retirement from the Presidency. During our travels today, we will also have an opportunity to see the site of Montebello, birthplace of President Zachary Taylor. While there is no place for the bus to stop, we will drive by as slowly as we can and thereby encounter all eight home sites of Virginia Presidents!

Boxed lunches at James Madison's Montpelier.

After lunch, we will have the opportunity to visit the Rotunda at the University of Virginia, founded by Jefferson in 1819. He considered the creation of this “academical village” one of his greatest achievements. Led by our group leader, we’ll walk through the grounds to observe the impressive Rotunda and Lawn, both designed by Jefferson. After returning to the hotel following our field trip to Montpelier, take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.

Tonight's meal has been excluded from the cost of your program tuition. Your group leader will be happy to provide suggestions nearby.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Aboard our motorcoach en route to Sherwood Forest Plantation, we will see a film titled, “The Presidents” focusing on the antebellum Presidents and in particular the two Virginia Whigs: Indian fighter William Henry Harrison and running mate John Tyler, who utilized the nation's first campaign song in their quest for the White House. Consider what today seems to us almost impossible: the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates of 1840 being from the same state. Learn about the lives of these Virginia patricians who were Charles City County neighbors. During our field trip, we will see how landed gentry of Tidewater Virginia in this era lived at the home of John Tyler, the first “accidental” President. Tyler called it Sherwood Forest as an inside joke in recognition of his “outlaw” status as a Whig politician. It grew to become the longest frame house in America, more than 300 feet, and has remained in the Tyler family ever since. There are 12 original outbuildings or dependencies on the beautifully wooded landscape.

At a local restaurant.

Berkeley Plantation was the home of William Henry Harrison, the first Whig President and the first to die in office a month after his inauguration. Born into a wealthy slave-holding family, he moved to what was then the Northwest Territory before the end of the 18th century. He eventually ran for President as the candidate of “the common man” — the most egregious instance of political spin in early U.S. campaign history. We will stroll through the gorgeous tree-lined lawn and 10 acres of formal gardens before participating in an expert led walk through one of Virginia's oldest three story brick homes. Berkeley claims prominence as the site of America's first Thanksgiving in 1619. This was also the place where "Taps" was composed when the Union Army camped here during the Civil War. On our return ride, we will see the film “Woodrow Wilson” to learn about the exceptional career of Virginia's only 20th century President.

At a restaurant a short walk from the hotel, enjoy a farewell dinner with your new Road Scholar friends. Return to hotel after dinner.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Woodrow Wilson was educated at Princeton, the University of Virginia, and Johns Hopkins, where he earned a doctorate with his dissertation “Congressional Government: A Study in American Politics.” He served as a professor at Columbia, Bryn Mawr, and Wesleyan before joining the faculty of Princeton and was eventually chosen as its President. Learn about Wilson’s views on government, politics, Constitutional law, and follow his progress to Governor of New Jersey and finally the Presidency, where he managed the most progressive legislative agenda until Franklin D. Roosevelt, followed by U.S. involvement in World War I and his efforts on behalf of the League of Nations. At the Woodrow Wilson Museum and Birthplace, we will explore the museum and its galleries dedicated to President Wilson's life. Then enjoy an expert-led walk through the house with its period furnishings and Wilson family belongings. Finish with a stroll through the charming boxwood garden, a restoration project of the Garden Club of Virginia.

We return to the hotel where you can pick up a box lunch to take away with you. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy all your Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. We encourage you to join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys!