The James Monroe Museum will mark the beginning of a year of celebrations honoring the bicentennial of James Monroe’s presidency with an Inauguration Reenactment on Saturday, March 4, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the steps of Monroe Hall on the Fredericksburg campus of the University of Mary Washington.
James Monroe was inaugurated for his first term as the
nation’s fifth president on March 4, 1817, ushering in what became known as the “Era of Good Feelings.” On this 200th anniversary of his first inauguration, the public is invited to witness Monroe’s inaugural address and the oath of office as administered by his longtime friend and occasional political adversary, Chief Justice John Marshall. The presidential party, including Elizabeth Monroe, will be welcomed by a color guard and the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. Living history interpreters, including James “Jay” G. Harrison III as James Monroe, military re-enactors and members of Regency Era organizations, will interact with attendees before and after the ceremony.
The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps will kick off the event
with a half-hour concert featuring music of the era. The Corps is part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia. The musicians of this unit recall the days of the American Revolution as they perform in uniforms patterned after those worn by the musicians of Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army. Military musicians of the period wore the reverse colors of the regiments to which they were assigned. The uniforms worn by the members of the Corps are dated circa 1784 and consist of black tricorn hats, white wigs, waistcoats, Colonial coveralls and distinct red regimental coats.
Fredericksburg Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw as well as other local and state politicians will be on hand to offer greetings.
The event is free and open to the public and will be live streamed through the University of Mary Washington. A reception will follow.
Limited parking will be available at Monroe Hall. For information regarding other parking options on campus, please visit the UMW website at https://www.umw.edu/visitors/. For more information, contact the James Monroe Museum at 540-654-1043.
The James Monroe Museum is owned by the commonwealth of Virginia and is administered by the University.
