LEXINGTON, Va., Oct. 22, 2022—As part of its ongoing Master Guide Tour Series, the Jackson House Museum is presenting a new guided tour called “Jackson’s Maxims: Words to Live By.” On this tour, visitors explore how Jackson’s former home reflects several maxims – or sayings – that Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson compiled and modeled his behavior, as part of his lifelong commitment to self-improvement. This tour opened Oct. 1 and will be available to the public through Dec. 31.

Orphaned at the age of seven, Jackson worked diligently to improve his position in life. Shortly after graduating from West Point in 1846, he served as an enlisted officer in the Mexican-American War, beginning his career in the military that would eventually make him one of the most famous military leaders in American history. Jackson was also concerned with improving his character, so by 1848, he began a collection of personal rules and advice from various sources regarding the development of manners and morals. Over the next five years, he compiled this list of quotations and created what we know today as his “Book of Maxims.” Although he finished compiling his book before moving into the house on Washington St., various artifacts and stories from his time in the house, show how Jackson used his maxims every day to become the kind of man he wanted to be, even years after writing his final maxim.

Through the Master Guide Tour Series, visitors to the Jackson House Museum will explore the history of Jackson and his Lexington home in new and exciting ways on a variety of guided tours that address a specific topic. These guided tours are available Tuesday through Saturday, twice a day, at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Free admission is currently offered to residents of Lexington, Buena Vista, and Rockbridge County. For non-local visitors, tickets for the Master Guide Tour are $15 for adults and $12 for youth ages 6 to 17, with discounts available for AAA members and active or retired military members. Visitors who purchase the Master Guide Tour Series ticket will also receive access to the self-guided tour of The Jackson House Museum. Visit the museum's website to learn more.

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