Decor & Furnishings

Bringing Back the Home that James and Dolley Created and Loved

Dolley sold Montpelier after James Madison’s death, and sold or gave away much for the furnishings before moving to Washington D.C. Now, more than 150 years later, the curators at James Madison’s Montpelier have been busy conducting research on the interior objects, art, furnishings and decorative items.

The search for original objects is also underway. The list of objects attributed to the Madisons’ ownership is long. Each room has been recreated, based on inventories, diaries, journal entries, memoirs, probate records, tax records, and ''family tradition'' (oral history). One room, the Madisons' Dining Room, has been reproduced as an exhibit to give visitors a feel for the spaces at Montpelier. Many rooms have been furnished and restored to interpret the c1820s Madison home.

Joe and Marge Grills Gallery,
Treasures of Montpelier
Visit the Grills Gallery, with rotating exhibits, including the Madisons’ personal items.