The Home Of The 4th US President - James Madison’s Montpelier

Montpelier is the lifelong home of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, Secretary of State, and slave owner. The house was built in 1764 and is a National Historic Landmark as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. His wife Dolley was considered America’s first ‘First Lady’. James died in 1836 and is buried in the family cemetery on the property. Dolley sold the planation in 1844 to Henry W. Moncure and moved to Washington D.C. Dolley died in Washington D.C. and was buried in a cemetery there. In 1958, after much negotiation Dolley’s body was moved to the Madison Family cemetery at Montpelier. The property went through six successive owners before being purchased by William DuPont in 1901. The estate was then inherited by his daughter, Marion duPont Scott an accomplished horsewoman. Marion transformed Montpelier into a first class Thoroughbred breeding and racing facility. In 1929, she inaugurated the Montpelier Races, and opened them to the public. The race is held every year on the first Saturday in Novemeber. In 1983, Marion bequeath the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Here is what caught my eye; I hope you enjoy!

The horses off in the fields

Arriving at Montpelier’s front facade

A first floor chamber

Looking out at the view from the front portico

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James Madison: A Life Reconsidered

By Cheney, Lynne V.

James Madison's Montpelier: Home of the Father of the Constitution

By Montpelier Foundation

Montpelier and the Madisons: House, Home and American Heritage (Landmarks)

By Hyland, Matthew

The life-sized sculpture of John and Dolley Madison by sculpture Ivan Schwartz.

The re-built buildings for the enslaved

The Drawing Room

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The dining room

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This is where Madison shaped the ideas that would become the U.S. Constitution. He sat here for six months studying past forms of government and formed the ‘Virginia Plan’, and later the framework for the Constitution.

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Second-floor passageway

One of the upstairs bedrooms

What looks like to be a Murphy bed in an upstairs bedroom

The beautiful grounds

Some of the recreated buildings where 100 enslaved African people lived and worked.

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The front facade of the main house

This neoclassical temple along with the house are original to the property when Madison owned it.

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The rear facade of the main house

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The entrance to the formal walled garden

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There is no real flowering going on here since it was only the beginning of March.

More of the formal walled garden

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In the Madison family cemetery

James Monroe’s grave marker

The nearby train station is the home to the newest exhibit at James Madison’s Montpelier called The Montpelier Train Depot In The Time of Segregation.

This is the century-old Montpelier Station and Post Office restored back to how it would look back in 1910. It was restored to educate the public about the “Jim Crow” era.

Information about segregation

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The Gilmore Cabin nearby was the home of George Gilmore, a freedman who was once enslaved. The cabin represents the Gilmore family’s early years.

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A clear day on a nearby country road

A nearby farm building off the road

What you should know:

• Tickets can be bought on-line or on-site.

• Check the website for days and hours of operation.

• There are walking trails.

• People are friendly, helpful and knowledge

• One price admission includes parking and self-guided tour of the grounds. The house tour is an additional cost.

• Public restrooms are available.

• You can spend two hours to an entire day here depending on your level of interest.

• There is a cafe located in Visitors Center.

• Picnicking is allowed.

Location: 11350 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA 22957

For more information: Montpelier