Montpelier (Orange, Virginia) facts for kids
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Montpelier (James Madison House)
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Montpelier restored to its original state
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Orange, Virginia |
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| Built | c. 1764 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000843 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLDCP | December 19, 1960 |
James Madison's Montpelier is a historic home in Orange County, Virginia. It was the main house of the Madison family's large farm, called a plantation. This was the home of James Madison, who became the fourth President of the United States, and his wife, Dolley.
Today, Montpelier is a 2,650-acre (10.7 km2) property. It is open to the public every day. Its goal is to teach people about Madison's important idea: that the government should be run by the people.
Montpelier was named a National Historic Landmark in 1966. This means it is a very important place in American history. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in the same year. In 1983, the last private owner, Marion duPont Scott, gave the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has managed Montpelier since 1984. In 2000, The Montpelier Foundation was created. Its aim was to make James Madison's historic home a lively place for learning. From 2003 to 2008, the NTHP worked hard to restore the mansion. They made it look like it did when James and Dolley Madison lived there. This meant returning it to its original size of 22 rooms.
Recent studies by archaeologists have found new facts about the lives of African Americans who were enslaved at the plantation. A generous gift from David Rubenstein helped the National Trust restore the slave quarters. They also opened an exhibit about slavery called "The Mere Distinction of Colour" in 2017.
Contents
The History of Montpelier
The Madison Family Home
In 1723, James Madison's grandfather, Ambrose Madison, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Chew, received a special land grant. They were given 4,675 acres (18.92 km2) of land in the Piedmont area of Virginia. Ambrose, his wife Frances, and their three children moved to the plantation in 1732. They called it Mount Pleasant.
Ambrose Madison died six months later. His wife, Frances, managed the estate with the help of their son, Colonel James Madison, Sr.. At that time, Ambrose Madison owned 29 enslaved people and nearly 4,000 acres (16 km2) of land.
James Madison, Sr., made the plantation bigger in the 1740s. He added services like building and blacksmithing. He also bought more enslaved people to grow tobacco and other crops. He married Nelly Conway Madison and they had 12 children.
James Madison, Sr.'s first son, also named James, was born on March 16, 1751. He was born at Belle Grove, his mother's family home. James Madison spent his early years at Mount Pleasant.
Building the Main House
In the early 1760s, Madison, Sr., built a new house about half a mile away. This new house is the main part of Montpelier today. It was built around 1764. It has two stories of brick and a low, sloped roof. James Madison later said he remembered helping move furniture into the new home. This first building phase (1764–1797) made the Madisons' home one of the largest brick houses in Orange County.
The second building phase (1797–1800) started in 1797. This was after James Madison returned to Montpelier with his new wife, Dolley Madison. James was 39, and Dolley was a young widow with a child. During this time, Madison added a thirty-foot extension and a fancy front porch (called a Tuscan portico) to the house.
In the last building phase (1809–1812), Madison added a large drawing room. He also added one-story sections on each side of the house. These new parts gave James and Dolley Madison their own space. After his second term as president, Madison retired to Montpelier full-time in 1817.
James Madison died in 1836 and is buried in the family cemetery at Montpelier. Dolley Madison moved back to Washington, D.C. in 1837. In 1844, she sold the plantation to Henry W. Moncure. Dolley Madison died in 1849 and was later buried at Montpelier next to her husband.
After Dolley Madison sold the estate, it had six more owners before the du Pont family bought it in 1901.
The Name Montpelier
No one is completely sure how Montpelier got its name. The first time the name was written down was in a letter from James Madison in 1781. Madison liked the French spelling, Montpellier. The city of Montpellier, France, was a famous resort town. Letters and visitor descriptions suggest this might be where the plantation's name came from.
Slavery at Montpelier
Most of the work at Montpelier was done by about 100 enslaved African people. This was during James Madison's time as owner. Enslaved people worked in many different roles. They were field workers, domestic servants (cleaning, cooking, caring for clothes), and skilled workers. They worked at the mill, the forge, and as carpenters. During the time the Madisons owned the estate, "five, six, and possibly seven generations of African Americans were born into slavery at Montpelier."
One well-known enslaved person from Montpelier was Paul Jennings (1799-1874). He was Madison's personal helper, called a body servant, from 1817 to 1835. When Jennings was 10, he worked at the White House. Senator Daniel Webster bought Jennings from Dolley Madison in 1845 and then gave him his freedom. Jennings continued to live in Washington, DC. He worked at the federal Pension Bureau and became a homeowner.
In 1848, Jennings helped plan a large slave escape in U.S. history. Seventy-seven enslaved people from the Washington, DC area tried to sail on a schooner called The Pearl to a free state. They were caught, and most were sold to the Deep South. Jennings is remembered for his book, A Colored Man’s Reminiscences of James Madison (1865). This is thought to be the first memoir written by someone who worked in the White House.
Archaeological studies have taught us a lot about Catherine Taylor (born around 1820). She was an enslaved woman born at Montpelier. Catherine married Ralph Taylor, who was also enslaved. They had four children. When Dolley Madison moved to Washington, D.C., after James Madison died, Ralph was chosen to go with her. Dolley kept Catherine at Montpelier for several months before bringing her to D.C. later.
Dolley Madison gave most of the enslaved people to her son, John Payne Todd. He said in his will that they would be freed after he died. However, because of legal and money problems after Todd's death, they were not freed right away. The Taylors asked for their freedom. After being officially freed in 1853, they chose to live in Washington. This city had a large community of free Black people and many job opportunities.
The Montpelier staff continues to learn about the enslaved community. They study old documents, do archaeological digs, and connect with living descendants. They want to show the important contributions and sacrifices of the enslaved community.
The duPont Family at Montpelier
After some changes in the late 1800s, the house was bought in 1901 by William and Annie Rogers duPont. They were part of the wealthy duPont family. William duPont loved horses. He built barns, stables, and other buildings for horse riding. The duPonts were important in developing Thoroughbred horse racing in the United States. They also added a Hodgson House to the property. These were early "prefabricated" homes, meaning they were built from parts made in a factory. This house is still at Montpelier and is called the "Bassett House."
William and Annie had a daughter, Marion duPont Scott, and a son, William duPont, Jr.. When William duPont, Sr. died in 1928, William duPont, Jr. inherited another family estate in Delaware. Marion inherited Montpelier. Marion worked to keep the Madison home, gardens, and grounds special for all Americans.
Marion made only one change to the house after her father died. She updated her parents' music room in the popular Art Deco style. She used new materials like laminated plywood, chrome, and glass. Before her parents moved in, they had made the house much bigger. They added wings that more than doubled the rooms to 55. They also covered the brick with a stucco outside to make it look lighter.
In 1934, Marion and her brother William started the Montpelier Hunt Races. These races are held on the grounds every year. They use natural hedges as jumps for the steeplechase. The races are still held every year on the first Saturday in November.
Marion duPont Scott died in 1983. She left the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She also left $10 million to help buy and care for it. In 1984, Marion duPont Scott's family officially gave Montpelier to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Montpelier Today
Since the National Trust for Historic Preservation took over in 1984, they have worked to make Montpelier look like it did during James Madison's time. They have also honored Marion duPont Scott. One of her favorite rooms is kept in the Visitor's Center, and the Montpelier Hunt Races still happen every year.
In 2000, the National Trust and The Montpelier Foundation began working together to manage the property.
The Robert H. Smith Center for the Constitution has an Education Center for students and teachers. It runs programs like "We the People" to help students learn about civics. It also offers programs for teachers to learn about history and teaching methods.
Montpelier is also a site for yearly archaeological digs. These digs happen from April to November. Researchers have found many early structures and artifacts related to the enslaved African Americans who lived there. These findings help us understand their lives much better.
From 2003 to 2008, the National Trust spent $25 million to restore the mansion. They made it look like it did in 1820. This meant removing the additions made by the duPont family and taking off the stucco to show the original brick. The inside of the house was also rebuilt to look like it did when Madison owned it.
Restoring the Mansion
A big restoration project started in October 2003 and finished on September 17, 2008. The goal was to make Montpelier look exactly as it did in 1820. This meant taking down parts added by the duPont family. Workers also removed the stucco to show the original brick and then restored the brick. The inside of the house was rebuilt to match how it looked when Madison lived there.
They used real materials like horsehair plaster and paint made with linseed oil. The staff and archaeologists are working to understand how each room was decorated. They want to make the rooms look as close as possible to how the Madisons knew them.
A special area in the visitors' center is dedicated to the duPont family. It includes a restored Art Deco Red Room from Marion duPont Scott's time. This room was moved from the mansion and is now a permanent display.
The Mere Distinction of Colour Exhibit
In 2017, Montpelier opened a new exhibit called The Mere Distinction of Colour. This exhibit, funded by David Rubenstein, explores the history of American slavery. It shows how slavery affected Montpelier and the entire country. The exhibit is in the cellars of the Madison house. The south cellar tells the story of slavery at Montpelier. The north cellar explains the money side of slavery and its lasting effects.
This exhibit is special because it was guided by living descendants of the enslaved people who lived at Montpelier. Montpelier has a group of active descendants. Some have family records proving their connection, while others have oral histories passed down.
The South Cellar shares the Montpelier slavery story. It includes the voices of descendants and the names of all known enslaved people during the Madison family's ownership. The North Cellar looks at the national story of slavery. It talks about how slavery became a part of American society. It also shows how profitable the slave trade was for all the colonies, not just the South.
This exhibit is free with any tour ticket and is open to the public seven days a week.
Visiting Montpelier Today
Montpelier is open to visitors Monday through Sunday, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- January – March: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- April – October: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- November – December: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Visitors can enjoy many activities at Montpelier. These include:
- A Hands-on-Restoration-Tent (April–October)
- A Hands-on-Archaeology Lab and Kid-Sized Archaeology (daily)
- Hands-on-Cooking (April–October)
- The Civil War and Gilmore Farm Trail (daily)
- The Archaeology Dig (April–October)
Visitors can also walk through the James Madison Landmark Forest. This is a 200 acres (0.81 km2) forest with very old trees.
Annual Events at Montpelier
Montpelier hosts many events each year. Three events bring in large crowds: the Montpelier Hunt Races, the Wine Festival, and the Fiber Festival.
The annual Montpelier Hunt Races are a steeplechase event held in the autumn. They were started by Marion duPont Scott and her brother William duPont, Jr. in 1934. The races happen on the first Saturday in November. Montpelier has one of the few steeplechase tracks in the country that uses traditional hedges as jumps. Guests can watch the seven races up close.
The Montpelier Wine Festival features unique arts and crafts, special food vendors, local farm products, and Virginia wine from about 25 different wineries.
The Fall Fiber Festival is held every October and is very popular. It shows every step of making textiles, from getting wool to the finished product. Events include sheep shearing, craft demonstrations, and other activities. The most popular part of the festival is the Sheep Dog Trials.
Other events include summer programs for children like "Mud Camp," a summer barbecue with local food, Archaeology Expeditions, Civil War demonstrations, and candlelight tours in December.
Montpelier Forest
A 197-acre (0.80 km2) forest on the property is known as the Montpelier Forest or the Landmark Forest. It was named a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service in 1987. This forest is one of the best examples of a mature Piedmont forest. It has many tulip poplar and spicebush trees. Different kinds of oak and hickory trees are also common.
This forest has been mostly untouched and contains several trees up to 300 years old. The good soil and conditions allow the trees to grow very large. Tulip poplars can reach heights of up to 120 feet (37 m) by the time they are 50 years old. Some trees have trunks that are up to five feet (60 in; 150 cm) wide.
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