Why Restore Montpelier?

Giving Madison's Home Back to the American People

In 1984, Marion duPont Scott left the Montpelier Estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation so that the home of James Madison would be opened to the American public. Currently Montpelier is operated and managed by the Montpelier Foundation, a group that entered into a co-stewardship agreement with the National Trust in 2000. As part of the new agreement, the Montpelier Foundation was responsible for interpreting the estate to the public, a job that eventually lead them to ask if it was possible to restore the mansion back to its appearance in Madison's time.

Rationale for Restoration

After an intensive 18-month investigation into the evolution of the house, it was determined that enough physical evidence had survived to accurately restore Madison's house at Montpelier. This evidence included nail holes that showed the original location for walls, the identification of re-used Madison-era windows and trim, plaster outlines showing the size and location of missing mantels as well as many other elements that survived the duPont renovations and additions.

The restoration of Montpelier also fulfills the expressed wishes of Marion duPont Scott, the last private owner of Montpelier, who bequeathed the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Finally, the restored Mansion will give the Montpelier Foundation an unprecedented setting to educate visitors about the life and contributions of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and chief architect of the Constitution.

The Importance of James Madison

James Madison: Father of the Constitution, author of the Bill of Rights, fourth President, and chief architect of the American Republic.