Painting, "Monroe's Return to Washington, 1817"

The oil-on-canvas painting shows James Monroe surrounded by well-wishers on the north end of the recently rebuilt post-War of 1812 White House, returning from his tour of the northern states in 1817. Monroe spent 15 weeks traveling some 2,000 miles, going up the coast to Portland, Maine, then over to Detroit, Michigan and back to Washington DC, meeting more people than any previous president. A Boston newspaper described Monroe's visit as creating an "Era of Good Feeling," inspiring the slogan for his presidency.