It’s worth warning you right away that most of the pictures on my camera from this excursion are of old books. I have an unhidden love affair with old books that I am not ashamed of. However, there really is a lot to see at Montpelier, home of master-brain Founding Father James Madison, outside of old books. (Although, why you would NEED to see anything else besides old books beats me.)
Madison (as we all now know from the musical Hamilton), was a close colleague of Jefferson’s and, while a bit over-shadowed by Jefferson’s monumental influence and personality, a powerful contributor to the nation we call home today.
It is worth the visit to this home.
As we’ve shared in our article on Monticello, we love living in an area so rich with history – and we find value in trying to understand how Charlottesville has grown in the shadow of huge legacies, fraught with good and bad. Taking the time to see, hear and learn from these huge estates has the ability to put things into perspective. And, of course, this is important for our children, too, as they grow to understand the world around them.
Like Jefferson, Madison did a lot for our country but also kept slaves, from which our nation is still reckoning with. Montpelier does a good job of not hiding this, but honoring and recognizing those people whose backs the plantation was built on who are mostly nameless to history. It is important, we think, for our kids to understand this. And we appreciated the fine-touch Montpelier brought to these exhibits and part of history.
Of course, we also spent time at Madison’s home amazed by what he contributed to our nation. Not to mention his amazing wife, Dolley (who could/should have been president).
Montpelier is a total of 2,700 acres, with trails, horses, formal gardens, and cemeteries (for the family, enslaved laborers, and even prized horses from subsequent owners). Your family will need all day to meander and enjoy here. Tip: you can buy a pass to enjoy the grounds without touring the house, if you are looking for an outdoor-only adventure.
Madison actually spent many of his formative years on this property, finally returning at the age of 39 with Dolley by his side. They then proceeded to add on to the existing brick home in two different phases, completing the Montpelier we see today.
In the late 19th century, the house was sold to the duPont family. Marion duPont was the eventual owner of the estate who was really into horses. She preserved much of Madison’s old home, but used the grounds for fox hunting and established the annual Montpelier Hunt Races (still going today!). There are three tombstones on the property in remembrance of her favorite prize-winning horses. In 1984, in accordance with Marion’s wishes, the house was transferred to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
I personally find Madison harder to access as opposed to a lot of the other Founding Fathers. I am not sure why that is, but spending time in the shadow of his accomplishments, even seeing the desk and spot where many of America’s defining documents were drafted, gave me chills.
Beyond the old books, the beautiful countryside and the finely preserved estate and home, alongside slave labor one-room cabins, is a good walk through the past as well as a glimpse into the Virginia we live in.
More about Montpelier:
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