What to See and Do

Montpelier, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Orange, Virginia, 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 him the "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.

Located in Orange, Virginia, just two 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.

Café and Museum Shop

Don't forget to rest and lunch in the Visitor Center Café...

... and shop in the beautiful Museum Shop for books and postcards for you, and keepsakes for friends and family.

Madison's Home: A Restoration Tour

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. Don't miss a chance to see a state-of-the-art restoration in progress. Watch an 1820s mansion emerge from the past as some of the nation's best craftsman and artisans peel back the layers of history. Completion of the architectural restoration is scheduled for mid-2008, so visit now while the restoration is still in progress!

Madison 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.

Madison Exhibits

Visit the Madison Exhibits in the Education Center highlighting Madison's role in writing the Constitution, and in America's founding. Here see a re-creation of James and Dolley's dining table set for a company dinner, and view Madison family furniture and decorative arts. Learn more about how Montpelier curators investigate each piece to discover its Madison provenance or authenticity.

Discovering Madison

While at the Education Center, view the 15-minute movie, Discovering Madison to learn about Madison's life, his presidency, his pivotal role in creating the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and his retirement years at Montpelier.

Hands-on Restoration Tent

Nestled between the mansion and the Formal Garden in Dolley's backyard, near where she held grand summer barbeques, is the Hands-on Restoration 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.

Champion Trees

Montpelier's south lawn is home to three "champion" trees — an English Oak, a Holly Leaf, and a Spanish Fir — the grandest specimens in Virginia.

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.

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.