Press
Media Inquiries
General
We are eager to help members of the media share Montpelier's many stories with the world in the most timely, accurate, and compelling manner possible.
- For general media inquiries, please contact press@montpelier.org
- If you are a travel writer or are working on a story dealing with Montpelier as a tourism attraction and you would like to schedule a FAM tour or learn more about upcoming events and programs, please contact press@montpelier.org
Visit our contact page prior to your visit so we can best assist you.
Structural Parity
Montpelier has frequently been in the news over the past year because of the struggles to achieve structural parity. Read the stories of its ultimate triumph. We believe that these stories will correct the record on certain egregious negative press attacks.
- Associated Press: “Madison estate rehires staff let go during recent turmoil,” (June 5, 2022) (also appears in the Washington Post, Bloomberg, and CBS 6 News)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “James Madison’s Montpelier rehires staff fired, suspended by ex-CEO,” by Clint Schemmer (June 3, 2022)
- Hyperallergic: “Montpelier CEO Resigns As Descendants of the Enslaved Get a Seat at the Table,” by Elaine Velie (May 29, 2022)
- The Orange County Review: “From fired to rehired, Elizabeth Chew named interim Montpelier president and CEO,” by Hilary Holladay (May 27, 2022)
- Southern Poverty Law Center: “Justice Prevails: Descendants of enslaved people at historic plantation win bruising battle to tell their stories,” by Rhonda Sonnenberg (May 27, 2022)
- ABC 8 News: “Fired Montpelier staffer returns to lead the founding father’s home,” by Jakob Cordes (May 26, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “Montpelier Foundation board chooses new leaders for presidential home,” by Clint Schemmer (May 25, 2022) (also appears in the Free Lance-Star)
- WINA.com: “Montpelier Foundation Board installs new leadership,” (May 23, 2022)
- C-Ville: “Above board,” by Courteney Stuart (May 18, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “Opinion/Editorial: Time to rehire and return to work at Montpelier,” (May 17, 2022)(also appears in the Culpeper Star-Exponent)
- The Free Lance-Star: “Editorial: Miracles can happen when sunlight is let in,” (May 17, 2022)
- Associated Press: “Montpelier Foundation elects 11 descendants of slaves,” (May 17, 2022)(also appears in Time, The Daily Press, and the San Francisco Chronicle)
- The Black Enterprise: “Slaves’ Descendants will Share Power with White Board Members at Montpelier, James Madison’s Virginia Estate,” by Derek Major (May 17, 2022)
- The Black Chronicle: “Slaves’ Descendants Will Share Power With White Board Members At Montpelier, President James Madison’s Estate,” (May 17, 2022)
- CBS 19 News: “Montpelier announces newest members of Foundation’s Board of Directors,” (May 17, 2022)
- The Washington Post: “In reversal, Montpelier appoints directors from descendants of the enslaved,” by Gregory S. Schneider (May 16, 2022)
- The New York Times: “At Montpelier, Slaves’ Descendants Will Share Power With White Board Members,” by Alyssa Lukpat (May 16, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “In reversal, Madison’s Montpelier shares governance with slaves’ descendants,” by Clint Schemmer (May 16, 2022)(also appears in The Daily Progress)
- ABC 8 News: “James Madison’s Montpelier fulfills promise of representation for descendants of enslaved people,” by Jakob Cordes (May 16, 2022)
- CBS 19 News: “Montpelier board votes for new members,” (May 16, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “Montpelier Foundation appoints 11 nominees from Descendants Committee,” (May 16, 2022) (also appears in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Free Lance-Star, and The Roanoke Times)
- The Washington Post: “Opinion: Montpelier: A model for reconciliation in peak polarization,” by James French (May 16, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “Opinion/Letter: Rehire fired Montpelier staff,” by NAACP Culpeper Branch and Orange County Branch (May 14, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “Opinion/Letter: Share power, reinstate employees,” by the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP Executive Committee (May 8, 2022)
- The Washington Post: “Opinion: A revanchist assault on racial reforms in Virginia,” by the Editorial Board (May 4, 2022)
- C-Ville: “Luminaries jump into the fray,” by Courteney Stuart (May 4, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “National Trust tells Montpelier board to seat nine MDC nominees immediately and without condition,” by Hilary Holladay (May 2, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “Editorial: Time for Montpelier to add to its board, share power with Descendants Committee,” by The Daily Progress (April 30, 2022)
- CBS 19 News: “MDC submits names for consideration for Montpelier board post,” (April 29, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “Editorial: Time for Montpelier to add to its board and share power,” by Jim Spencer (April 29, 2022)
- Washington Post: “Opinion: Changes at Montpelier work against repairing the wounds of slavery,” by Stephen P. Hanna, Derek H. Alderman, and Amy E. Potter (April 29, 2022)
- NewsRadio WINA: “Montpelier Descendants Committee Nominates 20 for Consideration to the Board,” by Courteney Stuart (April 28, 2022)
- NewsRadio WINA: “Montpelier Descendants Committee submits nominees for the historic attraction’s board of directors,” (April 28, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “Descendants at Madison’s Montpelier name 20 candidates for foundation board,” by Clint Schemmer (April 28, 2022)
- NBC 29 News: “Montpelier Descendants,” by Max Marcilla (April 28, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “Letter: Open letter to Montpelier CEO,” by Bill Speiden (April 27, 2022)
- C-Ville: “Montpelier goes fued-al,” by Courteney Stuart (April 27, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “Montpelier staff fears more retaliation, vows to fight on for enslaved people’s descendants,” by Clint Schemmer (April 25, 2022)(also appears in The Daily Progress and The Roanoke Times)
- BET: “Descendants of James Madison’s Slaves Fight for Equal Power of Foundation Overseeing His Former Plantation,” by Nigel Roberts (April 25, 2022)
- The New York Times: “At Madison’s Montpelier, a Fight Over Power for Slaves’ Descendants,” by Michael Levenson (April 22, 2022)
- The Washington Post: “James Madison’s plantation vowed to share power with black descendants. Then things blew up,” by DeNeen L. Brown (April 22, 2022)
- NPR: “Montpelier says it’s open to parity with slave descendants. Descendants cry foul,” Alana Wise (April 20, 2022)(also appears in MPR News, WAMU 88.5/American University Radio, and ncpr)
- ABC 8 News: “Montpelier staff fired amid fight over who should run James Madison’s home,” by Jakob Cordes (April 20, 2022)
- Esquire: “Let’s Not Throw Away the Progress Towards Historical Justice Made at James Madison’s Estate,” by Charles P. Pierce (April 19, 2022)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: “First, Montpelier reversed its power-sharing promise with descendants of the enslaved. Now, it’s retreating from its history of enslavement,” Michael Paul Williams (April 19, 2022) (also appears in The News & Advance, The Culpeper Star-Exponent, and The Free Lance-Star)
- The Daily Progress: “Editorial: Plantation mentality now rules the day at Montpelier Foundation,” (April 19, 2022)
- Hyperallergic: “Montpelier Fires Staffers Who Advocated for the Descendants of Enslaved People,” by Hakim Bishara (April 19, 2022)
- The Free Lance-Star: “Commentary: Can we reach the promised land?” by Martin Davis, Jr. (April 19, 2022)
- Washington Post: “Montpelier staffers say they were fired for backing descendants group,” by Gregory S. Schneider and DeNeen L. Brown (April 18, 2022)
- Augusta Free Press: “Montpelier Foundation begins purge of whistleblowing employees,” (April 18, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “CEO at Madison’s Montpelier sacks whistleblowing staff; National Trust protests action,” by Clint Schemmer (April 18, 2022)(also appears in The Daily Progress and Bristol Herald Courier)
- NewsRadio WINA: “MDC Calls for Montpelier CEO Resignation,” (April 18, 2022)
- The Free Lance-Star: “National Trust condemns Montpelier Foundation CEO after firing key staffers,” by Clint Schemmer (April 18, 2022)
- NBC 29 News: “James Madison’s ‘Montpelier’ fires several long-time employees, who claim it was ‘retaliation,’” by Max Marcilla (April 18, 2022) (also appears in WHSV 9 News)
- Washington Post Live: “‘Capehart’ with James French,” (April 14, 2022)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: “America’s Black museums decry Montpelier’s denying power to descendants of the Madisons’ enslaved,” by Clint Schemmer (April 6, 2022)
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: “At James Madison’s Montpelier, ‘parity’ for the descendants of the enslaved as stalled,” by Michael Paul Williams (April 6, 2022)
- Washington Post: “Opinion: A slaveholding president’s estate faces a modern racial controversy,” by the Editorial Board (April 5, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: “Montpelier board at impasse with descendants committee,” by Hilary Holladay (April 5, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “Nation’s history professionals deplore move by Madison’s Montpelier to walk back partnership pledge with Black community,” (March 31, 2022)
- C-Ville: “In brief: Montpelier breaks promise, and more,” by Maryann Xue (March 30, 2022)
- NewsRadio WINA: “Montpelier Faces National Backlash From Montpelier Descendants Committee Dispute,” by Courteney Stuart (March 29, 2022)
- NBC 29 News: “Montpelier Foundation revokes Montpelier Descendant Committee from equal say,” by Andrew Webb (March 28, 2022)
- Associated Press: “Montpelier ends power-share with enslaved descendants group,” (March 28, 2022)(also appears in U.S. News and World Report, Richmond Times-Dispatch, NBC 12 News, The Virginian-Pilot, CBS 6 News, amongst others)
- The Daily Progress: “Editorial: Montpelier fights over who controls the slaves’ story,” (March 28, 2022)
- Culpeper Star-Exponent: “James Madison’s Montpelier disempowers slave descendants, breaks promise,” by Clint Schemmer (March 27, 2022) (also appears in the Free Lance-Star and The Daily Progress)
- Augusta Free Press: “Montpelier descendants challenge massive resistance to power-sharing agreement,” (March 25, 2022)
- Washington Post: “James Madison’s Montpelier strips power from enslaved descendants group,” by Gregory S. Schneider (March 25, 2022)
Listen to James French, Montpelier’s Board Chair, discuss structural parity and other happenings at Montpelier.
- With Good Reason: “Expanding our Origin Story – Structural Parity” with Matt Darroch (November 11, 2022)
- NewsRadio WINA: “Montpelier Update from the Founding Chair of the Descendants Committee” with Courteney Stuart (October 17, 2022)
- NBC29: “Montpelier kicks off new tour for the community” with Bria Stith (September 3, 2022)
- NewsRadio WINA: “New Chair of Montpelier Foundation Board Speaks Resolution and Future” with Courteney Stuart (May 27, 2022)
- NBC29: “Montpelier Descendants Committee pitches candidates for Montpelier board as tensions continue” with Max Marcilla (April 28, 2022)
- NBC29: “Montpelier Foundation revokes Montpelier Descendant Committee from equal say” with Andrew Webb (March 28, 2022)
- NPR: “James Madison Museum Will Now Have Input From Descendants Of People He Enslaved” with Scott Simon (July 17, 2021)
- NBC29: “Montpelier makes history as first historic site to create bylaws for equity” with Andrew Webb (June 28, 2021)
"Capehart" with James French (Washington Post Live, April 14, 2022)
James Madison's Montpelier shares power with enslaved people's descendants (CBS19 with Carly Haynes, January 7, 2022)
Landscapes of Slavery, Landscapes of Freedom (Harvard Graduate School of Design, November 5-7, 2021)
IHR Partnership Seminary: Slavery - Its Legacie at Historic Sites (March 30, 2021)
Montpelier in Other News
Read about the exciting things happening at Montpelier!
- Travel Awaits: 9 Quaint Virginia Towns That Could Star In A Hallmark Christmas Movie by Robin O’Neal Smith (December 7, 2022)
- Southern Living: The Best Things To Do In Orange, Virginia by Nicole Letts (November 9, 2022; also appeared in Yahoo! November 10, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: Montpelier Hunt Races hold 87th running, and hats and horses rule the day by Alice Berry (November 5, 2022)
- National Parks Traveler: Four Sites Added To Reconstruction Era National Historic Network (November 1, 2022)
- The Daily Progress: Montpelier Station Post Office quietly reopens after furor over segregation exhibit decision by Allison Brophy Champion (October 20, 2022)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: Mike and Karen Pence revere Madison, Constitution on Montpelier visit by Clint Schemmer (updated October 20, 2022)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: Montpelier Station Post Office quietly reopens after furor over segregation exhibit decision by Allison Brophy Champion (October 19, 2022)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: Culpeper NAACP gives Presidents Award to Montpelier Descendants group (October 18, 2022)
- NewsRadio WINA: Montpelier Update from the Founding Chair of the Descendants Committee by Courteney Stuart (October 17, 2022)
- The Epoch Times: If Walls Could Talk: Touring James Madison’s Virginia Family Home at Montpelier by Bob Kirchman (October 13, 2022)
- Billboard: Lizzo Invited to Perform at James Madison’s Montpelier Estate After Bringing ‘History to Life’ on His Crystal Flute by Glenn Rowley (October 3, 2022) (also appears in TMZ, Los Angeles Times, BET, The Daily Wire, Yahoo! MSN, The Today Show, CBS News, People, amongst others)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: EDITORIAL: Hope and concern for democracy (September 28, 2022)
- Orange County Review: Byrd Street by Hilary Holladay (September 15, 2022)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: Madison’s life, democracy, power sharing among Constitution Month topics at Montpelier by Allison Brophy Champion (September 8, 2022)
- Christian Science Monitor: Presidential plantation shifts telling of history to let all voices rise by Noah Robertson (September 1, 2022)
- Orange County Review: Centering on the Constitution: Montpelier celebrates Madison’s birth, new initiative by Isaac Parrish (March 9, 2022)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: Montpelier unveils marker to Lafayette’s visits with James Madison by Clint Schemmer (November 23, 2021)
- New York Social Diary: Reflecting on our heritage and our heroes by Stephanie Green (November 17, 2021)
- NBC29: Archaeologists using metal detectors to reveal lost parts of Montpelier by Dryden Quigley (November 11, 2021)
- Recreation News: From presidential homes to lush wineries, Charlottesville beckon this fall by Carol Timblin (October 29, 2021)
- Orange County Review: Constitution Day at Montpelier by Jeff Poole (September 23, 2021)
- BlackNews.com: Black Descendant of 4th U.S. President James Madison Publishes Book About Her Black Family (September 2, 2021)
- The Daily Progress: Digging deep for inspiration: Regional artists to showcase work at area shows, beginning at Montpelier by Terry Beigie (August 26, 2021)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: National Trust backs “The Arc” trail to link Central Virginia’s African American sites by Clint Schemmer(July 20, 2021)
- Orange County Review: Celebrating Juneteenth: Arts Center, Montpelier, OCAAHS partner for virtual event by Morgan Parrish (June 10, 2021)
- Virginia Living: Exploring Virginia’s O.C. by Amy Brecount White (May 2021; originally appeared as “Fun in the Foothills” February 2021)
- NBC29: Join Montpelier archaeologists as they dig at the Blacksmith site by Patrick Huddleston (February 26, 2021)
- NBC29: Montpelier hosts holiday food drive to support Orange Co. food pantry by Patrick Huddleston (December 3, 2020)
- C-Ville Weekly: Pastures of plenty: Retired racehorses find a home at Montpelier (August 27, 2020)
- USA Today: Plantation tours evolve to put more focus on the experiences of enslaved people by Chris Woodyard (June 22, 2020)
- History News Network: Historic Houses Turn to Technology Amid COVID-19 Closures by Hana Hancock (April 26, 2020)
- Culpeper Star Exponent: Giving Tuesday is kind to Montpelier, James Madison’s historic home by Clint Schemmer (December 5, 2019)
The Mere Distinction of Colour
Our award-winning exhibition, The Mere Distinction of Colour, opened to the public on June 5, 2017. Click here for more information about the exhibition.
The Mere Distinction of Colour Media Coverage
- DC on the Cheap: 8 Reasons to Visit Montpelier
- WTOP: Montpelier rewrites ‘Disney version’ of history with new slavery exhibit
- Cheapism: 20 Exhibits You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
- NBC29: Montpelier Finishing Up New Exhibit Honoring Slaves
- CBS19 – Newsplex: Montpelier prepares to open comprehensive exhibit on slavery
- Richmond Times-Dispatch: Montpelier endeavors to incorporate stories of enslaved people as well as Madison’s history
- Orange County Review: Montpelier: The Mere Distinction of Colour
- Buzzfeed: The Descendants Of James Madison’s Slaves Are Digging Up His Plantation
- Blavity: How Montpelier’s “The Mere Distinction of Colour” Can Change Your View Of Slavery
