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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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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
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 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 7 - Apr 12, 2024
Starting at
2,039
May 5 - May 10, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Filling Fast!
May 26 - May 31, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Filling Fast!
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Filling Fast!
Sep 15 - Sep 20, 2024
Starting at
2,089
Oct 6 - Oct 11, 2024
Starting at
2,039
Filling Fast!
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
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Karen Warnecke
Karen Warnecke attended the University of Buffalo. After college, she made her way to San Diego, California, where she met her husband. His 30-year naval flight career led them to raise four sons all over the country. In Charlottesville, Karen continued her career with the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine as a course coordinator for first-year medical students. She retired several years ago to allow more opportunities to travel, visit family and friends, work in her garden, read, and enjoy the local area.

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

Profile Image of Karen Warnecke
Karen Warnecke View biography
Karen Warnecke attended the University of Buffalo. After college, she made her way to San Diego, California, where she met her husband. His 30-year naval flight career led them to raise four sons all over the country. In Charlottesville, Karen continued her career with the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine as a course coordinator for first-year medical students. She retired several years ago to allow more opportunities to travel, visit family and friends, work in her garden, read, and enjoy the local area.
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 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 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.
A Slave in the White House: Paul Jennings and the Madisons
by Taylor, Elizabeth Dowling
“Those Who Labor for My Happiness”: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
by Stanton, Lucia C.
The Original Black Elite: Daniel Murray and the Story of a Forgotten Era
by Dowling, Elizabeth Taylor
The Federalist Papers
by Hamilton, Alexander, James Madison, and John Jay
Thomas Jefferson and His Time
by Malone, Dumas
Zachary Taylor
by Bauer, Jack K.
John Tyler, the Accidental President
by Crapol, Edward P.
James Monroe: The Quest for National Identity
by Ammon, Harry
John Tyler
by May, Gary
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism
by Baptist, Edward
George Washington: Writings
by Rhodehamel, John H. (ed.)
Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War II
by Blackmon, Douglas
James Madison the Founding Father
by Rutland, Robert A.
Zachary Taylor
by Eisenhower, John D
Jefferson and Monroe: Constant Friendship and Respect
by Cunningham, Noble
American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson
by Ellis, Joseph J.
James Madison: A Biography
by Ketcham, Ralph
The Educational Legacy of Woodrow Wilson: From College to Nation.
by Axtell, James (ed.)
Woodrow Wilson: A Biography
by Cooper, John Miton
Madison and Jefferson.
by Burstein, Andrew and Nancy Isenberg
William Henry Harrison.
by Collins, Gail





Important registration tip:
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.