Project Overview

This exhibit uses artifacts from Monroe’s 1799 Main House. We interpret the lives of those who lived and worked here, focusing on those who have often been overlooked in traditional historical narratives of plantation life. 

While all of the objects included in this exhibit are from the Main House excavations, it is difficult to link them to any one individual or moment they were used. These objects represent what individuals may have used daily. While it's possible that these objects were used by Monroe’s household, the house continued to be occupied for about three years after the Monroe era, with its sale to Edward Goodwin. 

These artifacts provide a narrative that shows the relationships between people and their roles within the house. They represent what people would have used and seen in a home like this during Monroe's lifetime, offering a glimpse into daily life in Virginia in the early 19th century.