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Virginia

Virginia, Mother of Presidents: Seven Historic Sites

Program No. 19969RJ
Immerse yourself in the wonders of Virginia, exploring seven presidential homes, visiting national landmarks and enjoying traditional colonial food at the historic Michie Tavern.

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itinerary
Please Note:
The itinerary for this program is different on certain dates.
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 9 - Apr 14, 2023
Starting at
1,549
May 7 - May 12, 2023
Starting at
1,749
Sep 10 - Sep 15, 2023
Starting at
1,749
Sep 17 - Sep 22, 2023
Starting at
1,749
Oct 1 - Oct 6, 2023
Starting at
1,549
Itinerary Note

OLLI-Sierra College

Oct 29 - Nov 3, 2023
Starting at
1,749
Apr 7 - Apr 12, 2024
Starting at
1,699
May 5 - May 10, 2024
Starting at
1,749
May 26 - May 31, 2024
Starting at
1,749
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
1,749
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
Starting at
1,749
Oct 6 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
1,699
Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
1,699
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 9 - Apr 14, 2023
Starting at
1,879
May 7 - May 12, 2023
Starting at
2,079
Sep 10 - Sep 15, 2023
Starting at
2,079
Sep 17 - Sep 22, 2023
Starting at
2,079
Oct 1 - Oct 6, 2023
Starting at
1,879
Itinerary Note

OLLI-Sierra College

Oct 29 - Nov 3, 2023
Starting at
2,079
Apr 7 - Apr 12, 2024
Starting at
2,039
May 5 - May 10, 2024
Starting at
2,089
May 26 - May 31, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Oct 6 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
2,039
Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
2,039

At a Glance

Truly the “Mother of Presidents,” the state of Virginia is the birthplace of eight of the country’s chief executives. Seven of these Old Dominion natives were among the first twelve holders of the nation’s highest office. Explore with experts how the homes of these men reflect their personalities and the social norms of each man’s own era.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles a day over uneven terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Visit the homes of seven former United States Presidents, including Washington’s beloved Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s masterpiece at Monticello.
  • Experience the beauty of the Virginia countryside from the mountains to the Tidewater region, and enjoy lunch at historic Michie Tavern.
  • Meet one of the Founding Fathers in a lively interaction where you can ask questions and gain insights from a convincing historical interpreter.

General Notes

This program visits eight different homes & locations over six days. We try our best to explore each individual area as best we can. Please be aware that bus time is crucial, and travel may take up to a few hours at a time.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Dennis Bigelow
For more than a decade, Dennis Bigelow has interpreted the character of President James Monroe for the College of William & Mary at Highland, Monroe's home in Albemarle County, Virginia. He has performed at the White House, Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia State House, the National Archives, the Smithsonian, and other venues. He shares ancestral grandparents with Thomas Jefferson through the Randolph family as well as Chief Justice John Marshall, a great friend of Monroe and a maternal ancestral uncle.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Lee Rose
Lee Ann Rose View biography
Lee Ann Rose has found a way to use her theatre degree and her love of history into a career that has spanned 20 years at Colonial Williamsburg and now has allowed her to step out creating her own company called, Shades of Our Past. At her time at Colonial Williamsburg, she has played Martha Washington and coached other character interpreters and Nation Builders. When she is not performing, she is working on a book about Martha Washington's children.
Profile Image of Christi Pancoast
Christi Pancoast View biography
Christi Pancoast is originally from Ohio and has been a teacher in Richmond, Virginia for over two decades. She is a self-proclaimed travel junkie, lifelong learner, and people enthusiast. In her free time, she enjoys Zumba, yoga, and being with her friends.
Profile Image of Dennis Bigelow
Dennis Bigelow View biography
For more than a decade, Dennis Bigelow has interpreted the character of President James Monroe for the College of William & Mary at Highland, Monroe's home in Albemarle County, Virginia. He has performed at the White House, Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia State House, the National Archives, the Smithsonian, and other venues. He shares ancestral grandparents with Thomas Jefferson through the Randolph family as well as Chief Justice John Marshall, a great friend of Monroe and a maternal ancestral uncle.
Profile Image of Miranda Burnett
Miranda Burnett View biography
Miranda Burnett, research librarian for the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society, received an MA in French from the University of South Carolina, and — after teaching high school French and Latin for a few years — earned an MS in library and information science at FSU. She moved to the Charlottesville area in 2008, becoming involved with the Scottsville Museum. She joined JMRL in 2016 as a substitute reference librarian, moving to Northside Library as a reference librarian in 2017 before accepting the position of historical collections librarian.
Profile Image of Michael Dickens
Michael Dickens View biography
Michael Dickens, M.D., is an honors graduate of Princeton University and received his medical degree from Columbia University. In addition to a longtime career practicing medicine in Charlottesville, he has been employed on the interpretative staff at James Madison’s Montpelier and James Monroe’s Highland. He has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. He also had five years' experience as a volunteer researcher for the staff of the Papers of George Washington.
Profile Image of Patrick Campbell
Patrick Campbell View biography
Patrick Campbell spent an exciting and challenging 21 years as a U.S. Marine Corps infantry officer and lawyer, then 13 years teaching government courses, coaching, and administration in independent schools. He joined the team at Montpelier in 2017 and appreciates the chance to partner with groups who want to expand their understanding and engagement as citizens. Patrick has a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.Ed and J.D. from the University of Virginia.
Profile Image of John Ragosta
John Ragosta View biography
John Ragosta, an award-winning author, is currently a historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and a fellow at Virginia Humanities. He has taught history and law at the University of Virginia, George Washington University, and Hamilton, Oberlin, and Randolph Colleges. Dr. Ragosta has published on a broad range of topics in historical, legal, and scientific journals and written several important books on the development of American religious freedom.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
George Washington: Writings
by Rhodehamel, John H. (ed.)
Woodrow Wilson: A Biography
by Cooper, John Miton
“Those Who Labor for My Happiness”: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
by Stanton, Lucia C.
James Madison the Founding Father
by Rutland, Robert A.
Zachary Taylor
by Eisenhower, John D
Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
by Blackmon, Douglas
The Federalist Papers
by Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay
John Tyler
by May, Gary
Thomas Jefferson and His Time
by Malone, Dumas
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism
by Baptist, Edward
James Madison: A Biography
by Ketcham, Ralph
James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity
by Ammon, Harry
William Henry Harrison.
by Collins, Gail
Zachary Taylor
by Bauer, Jack K.
John Tyler, the Accidental President
by Crapol, Edward P.
The Educational Legacy of Woodrow Wilson: From College to Nation.
by Axtell, James (ed.)
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson
by Ellis, Joseph J.
Jefferson and Monroe: Constant Friendship and Respect
by Cunningham, Noble
A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons
by Taylor, Elizabeth Dowling
The Original Black Elite: Daniel Murray and the Story of a Forgotten Era
by Dowling, Elizabeth Taylor
Madison and Jefferson.
by Burstein, Andrew and Nancy Isenberg





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If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.