Monroe Hill, a historic building located adjacent to Brown Residential College and former residence of President James Monroe, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 8. It joins the ranks of the George Rogers Clark Memorial Statue downtown and approximately 77,000 other historically significant places nationwide.
National Register Manager Mark Warner, a University alumnus, said Monroe Hill is most interesting because of President Monroe, but also because it predated the University and is the oldest building on Grounds.
Being placed on the Register makes Monroe Hill eligible for federal assistance for preservation as well as tax benefits. However, with placement on the list, the University will retain autonomy in management of the property in accordance with federal regulations.
In a letter written by Monroe in 1789, which is posted on the Monroe Hill Web site, he wrote, "It has always been my wish to acquire a property near Monticello."
Monroe Hill property was Monroe's primary residence from 1789 to 1799. Monroe used one of the buildings on the property as a law office.
Monroe lived on and off at the Charlottesville location with his wife and two surviving children when he was not abroad serving as Minister to France from 1794 to 1796, said John Pearce, director of the James Monroe Museum and Memorial Library.
The property was described in insurance records as two "dwelling houses" and a separate kitchen building with "walls of brick, with wood."
Monroe sold the property in 1806, and it was purchased in 1820 by the University, along with the addition of the prominent Greek revival style home most recognizable to students as Monroe Hill, which was not present during Monroe's occupancy.
In 1848, the first dormitories were added to the property, resembling rooms found on the Range. The current dormitories on Monroe Hill were built in 1921, according to the Brown College Web site.
Two other University properties are in the process of being listed on the National Register, Wagner said.
Memorial Gym, historically significant for the "dagger-in-the-back" speech President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave during the University's 1940 commencement ceremony, and the Leander McCormick Observatory are both under consideration.
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