What to See and Do
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Orange, Virginia, Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison. Madison was raised at Montpelier, lived here after his marriage to Dolley, returned here after his presidency, and died here in his study surrounded by the books and papers that marked so much of his life's work. It was at Montpelier where Madison researched past democracies and conceived of the system of government that became our republic.
The Montpelier estate features the Madison mansion, historic buildings, exhibits, archaeological sites, gardens, forests, hands-on activities, a new Visitor Center, and a freedman's cabin and farm. Here, in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, you can spend an hour or two—or a day or two—strolling the grounds, picnicking, and learning more about the man whose contemporaries called "Father of the Constitution," and the woman who was the first to be called First Lady.
Since 2004 the Montpelier mansion has been undergoing a massive restoration to return it to the home that James and Dolley knew and loved. Visit now for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see this real-life historical detective story.
Only 2 hours from Washington, 1½ hours from Richmond, 45 minutes from Fredericksburg, and 30 minutes from Charlottesville, Montpelier makes a wonderful, historic visit in the country for you and your family and friends. Click here for directions.
Visitor Center
Make your first stop the Visitor Center to get a map, see an interactive model of the estate, and plan your visit. Begin your tour with a short presentation in the Alan and Louise Potter Theater to learn all about the restoration and the architectural detective story that led to this remarkable transformation.
Grills Gallery
While at the Visitor Center, stop by the Joe and Marge Grills Gallery to see the Treasures of Montpelier—Madison's spyglass, a brace of pistols, snuff box, and a reproduction of Dolley's red dress.
duPont Gallery
At the south end of the Visitor Center you can stroll through the duPont Gallery to see what life was like at Montpelier during the early 20th century for another grand American family.
Courtyard Café and Museum Shop
Don't forget to rest and lunch in the Courtyard Café...
... and shop in the beautiful Museum Shop for books and postcards for you, and keepsakes for friends and family.
The Madisons' Home
The centerpiece of the Montpelier experience is the tour of the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, and his wife Dolley, America's first First Lady. See how an 1820s mansion emerged from the past as some of the nation's best craftsman and artisans peeled back the layers of history. Architectural restoration was completed September 17, 2008, Constitutional Day.
Mr. Madison's Temple
Just north of the mansion, you can stand in the Temple where James Madison contemplated democracy, and take in the view of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Conscious of both landscape geometry and beauty, the ever-practical Madison situated his Temple over the plantation ice house and within eyesight of the second-story deck of the mansion's north wing. In this way, revelers could view the mountains and the Temple, while making good use of the ice stored beneath it.
Hands-on Tent
Nestled between the mansion and the Formal Garden in Dolley's backyard, near where she held grand summer barbeques, is the Hands-on Tent. Here you can try your hand at the building crafts of Madison's time. Make a brick, saw a log, and nail a plank the way Madison's craftsmen did. Play period games and try doing chores of the period. Open daily April through October.
Madison Family Cemetery
Just behind the Mount Pleasant site lies the Madison Family Cemetery—the final resting place of James and Dolley Madison.
Slave Cemetery
A few hundred yards north of the Madison Family Cemetery is the Slave Cemetery, containing the graves of 38 members of Montpelier's enslaved community. Archaeologists suspect that the graveyard may have extended beyond this known position.
Gardens and Grounds
Montpelier offers 2,650 acres of rolling hills, spacious horse pastures, and spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Plan to spend some time enjoying the gardens and grounds.
Annie duPont Formal Garden
Wander the two-acre Annie duPont Formal Garden featuring formal walkways, sweeping beds, an herb garden, and magnificant marble lions and urns. Established in Madison's time, the Garden was renovated by Annie duPont in the early 1900s.
James Madison's Landmark Forest
Beyond the back lawn where Dolley entertained stands the 200-acre James Madison Landmark Forest. A series of trails offer a variety of 10- to 45-minute walks through this old-growth virgin forest.
Mount Pleasant Site
Just west of the Visitor Center and east of the Madison Family Cemetery lies the site of the original family homestead, Mount Pleasant. Built by James Madison's grandfather, Ambrose, the first Madison home site is 500 yards from the current home.
Active Archaeological Sites
Watch Montpelier archaeologists dig for history and join in! Active digs take place around the property from March through to November.
Archaeology Laboratory Now Open!
A short, two-minute walk from Mr. Madison's Temple, the Montpelier archaeology lab is now open to the public. Come learn about 20 years of research, and watch archaeologists process artifacts and evidence recovered from active dig sites. The lab also features artifact displays, a study collection, and an interactive touch-screen that shows the life of an artifact unearthed from Montpelier's ground. Open daily—9:30a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Dig for Treasure: Kid-Sized Archaeology
The lab also features a Kid-Sized archaeology unit, where children can dig for real-life Montpelier artifacts, wash them, and identify what they found. Fun for kids of all ages!
Gilmore Cabin: A Freedman's Farm
The Gilmore Cabin and Farm offers a rare glimpse of what life was like for African Americans after emancipation. George Gilmore, a former slave at Montpelier, settled here with his wife, Polly, and their five children, and eventually bought the land upon which his homestead sits. Open weekends, April through October.
Civil War Encampment Sites
Take a walk through the woods to see a Confederate Civil War Encampment archaeological site. Discovered in 2002 by Montpelier archaeolgoists, this is the site where Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia spent the winter under the direction of General Samuel McGowan.
Rebuilding Montpelier's Civil War Huts
Come and see local Civil War reenactors of the 3rd Regiment of the Army of Northern Virginia rebuild five period huts using the same construction techniques and materials that Confederate troops would have used in the depths of the winter of 1863-1864. When finished the encampment will represent the only authentic presentation of a "company street" in the United States. See the Calendar of Events for when they will be behind the Gilmore Cabin: A Freedman's Farm.
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