Tours of Montpelier
Montpelier offers a wide range of informative tours to engage the interests of visitors on a daily basis, as well as a number of themed tours throughout the day.
Daily Tours
The Montpelier daily tours and activities occur at regular intervals throughout the day and include the restoration tour, the Madison Exhibits at the Education Center and the Visitor Center, and the Hands-on Restoration Tent. Read more...
Themed Tours
The Montpelier themed tours take place at various times throughout the year and offer a broader perspective on the specific issues, concepts, and sites at Montpelier. They include tours of the Gilmore Cabin: A Freedman's Farm, the Civil War Encampments of a Confederate South Carolina Brigade, and the Gardens and Grounds. Read more about our weekend and quarterly thematic tours.
Pushed for Time?
There is a lot to see and do at Montpelier, but if you only have a small amount of time to spend here, we recommend the following:
If you only have one hour...
Meet your guide in the Visitor Center and watch the introductory presentation in the Alan and Louise Potter Theater. Take a Restoration Tour of the house, stop by the Madison Temple, and see the Treasures of Montpelier in the Joe and Marge Grills Gallery.
If you have two hours...
Add a stroll through Dolley's back lawn, and stop to make a brick at the Hands-on Restoration tent (April - October). Take a turn through the Annie duPont Formal Garden on your way to the Madison Exhibits.
If you have half a day...
Add a visit to the Madison Family Cemetery, the Slave Cemetery, and the Mount Pleasant archaeological site of the original Madison family home. Stop by the Gilmore Cabin: A Freedman's Farm to see how the newly freed slaves began their new lives after Emancipation.
If you have a whole day...
Lunch in the Café, visit the duPont Gallery, hike the Landmark Forest, watch the horses graze... and see everything Montpelier has to offer.
The Acoustiguide
When you park at the Visitor Center to begin your tour of Montpelier, you can also pick up an Acoustiguide™ audioguide—an audio tour system which enables you to discover Montpelier at your own pace. You may explore the audioguide stops in any order you choose. There are three or four messages for each designated stop throughout the landscape. Each message provides an informative passage related to the theme of the stop.
Group Tours
Montpelier can accommodate small and large groups. Read more...
School Field Trips
Montpelier has an active education program for school children. Read more...