Reconstruct: Historic Masonry Expedition with Fairfield

This is a week-long, hands-on educational experience in which you will work side-by-side with professional archaeologists and masons on actual archaeological sites at both Montpelier and across the historic Middle Peninsula. Get behind the scenes tours of historic buildings and hands on masonry experience.

Expeditioners will begin the first part of their week working with the Fairfield Archaeology Team and experts visiting historic house sites in Virginia’s historic Middle Peninsula and building a rick to burn oyster shell into quick lime.  The second half of the week will be spent working with the Montpelier Archaeology Team and experts on masonry repairs at James Madison’s Montpelier. The expedition group will focus on replacing the failed mortar joints at Arlington House’s historic chimneys as well as repairs to a blacksmithing forge from 1800s.

Preliminary Schedule:

Sunday Sept 7

• 6:00 dinner at Fairfield

Monday Sept 8th

• 8:00 tour of Fairfield
• 9:00 Assess masonry at Fairfield
• 1:00 tour of Timberneck
• 2:00 assess masonry at Timberneck
• 3:00 begin construction of LimeRick

Tuesday Sept 9th

• 8:00 tour of Rosewell
• 9:00 Assess masonry at Rosewell
• 11:00 return to Timberneck–continue work on LimeRick
• 2:00 Burn Limerick
• 6:00 ….

Wednesday Sept 10th

• 10:00 arrive at Montpelier at CALM–
• 11:00 tour of Main House and Mere Distinction of Colour
• 1:00 cellar tour
• 2:00 tour of blacksmith shop
• 3:00 tour of Arlington House
• 4:00 training for joint repair
• 6:00 Dinner at Arlington House

Thursday Sept 11th

• 8:00 artifacts of masonry (CALM)
• 10:00-4:00 repairs at Arlington and Blacksmith shop (rotating) 

Friday Sept 12th 

• 8:00-9:00 visit lime kiln at Cowherd tract
• 9:30-2:00 repairs at Arlington and Blacksmith shop (rotating) 
• 2:00-3:00- reception
• 3:00 depart Montpelier

Costs and Deposit

Cost: $950.00 for the week

Deposit: $300.00

We have payment options– a non-refundable deposit is all you need to reserve your space on one of our programs!

Note:  We have scholarships for members of the Montpelier Descendants Committee. Please email dig@montpelier.org for more information.

If you have any questions, please email: Dig@montpelier.org