James Madison's Montpelier
Year-Round Events
James Madison's Montpelier hosts a variety of popular events, including educational day camps, reenactments, and scenic walks. Learn More
The Scenic Landscape
Montpelier has nearly 2,700 acres of rolling pastures, lawns, gardens, and woods in the heart of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. (Photo by Ron Blunt) Learn More
Montpelier, a National Trust Historic Site
Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, fourth President of the United States, and genius of the American Republic. Learn More
"Notwithstanding a thousand faults and blunders,
[Madison's] administration has acquired more glory, and established more union,
than all his three Predecessors, Washington, Adams, and Jefferson, put together."
John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, 1817
Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, fourth President of the United States, and genius of the American Republic. Madison's early life in Virginia nurtured his commitment to religious freedom and his patriotic vision for a democratic nation. Montpelier also became home to Dolley Madison, whose graciousness and hospitality inspired the term "First Lady".
James Madison's Montpelier is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and operated by the Montpelier Foundation, Inc.
The preservation of this National Trust Historic Site was supported by Save America's Treasures, a program that is facing elimination in the proposed federal budget. Join our campaign to save this component of preservation funding, which has restored 1,100 structures and collections and created 16,000 jobs.
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Montpelier's Blog
Broadcasting from Montpelier
By now you probably know 2010 is a census year. Did you also know the Constitution calls for a census? Article I, Section 2 states, “The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such [...]
259 Years and Counting
On March 16, 1751 Nelly Conway Madison gave birth to her firstborn, James Madison, Jr. She had the baby at her parents’ Port Conway, Virginia home. Nelly or “Mother Madison” and her new baby returned to James Sr. at Mount Pleasant later that spring.
259 years later, James Madison’s Montpelier commemorated the birthday of the “Father [...]
Digging out from Winter
The snow is almost gone and we have even had a few days in the 40s. Clear ground and improved weather can mean only one thing: it’s almost time for archaeology season to begin!
The archaeology teams has spent most of the cold winter days in the lab cataloging and analyzing artifacts from last spring. But [...]
