Montpelier

Orange, VA, October 10, 2010: This bright autumnal Sunday, we ventured into the piedmont to visit Montpelier, the home of James Madison who was the moving force behind the US Constitution and the 4th president. The National Trust recently removed extensive 20th Century additions by the duPonts, restoring the house back to its form when Madison left the White House (c. 1820).

The house began in 1764 as a Federalist house whose center door was the right front door of the current house. In 1797, Madison added a 30-foot extension to the left side of the house, creating a duplex tied together with the front portico. He and Dolley lived in the extension while his parents continued to live in the older house. The porch was the only connection between the two residences. While Madison was president, he oversaw, with the help of Thomas Jefferson's builder, a third renovation of house in preparation for the onslaught of visitors he expected following his presidency. The central entrance was added which led into a central salon with three triple hung windows which when open are doorway to the rear portico and wings were added to either side of the house.

In Madison's final renovation, this temple was added atop an ice house northeast of the house:
This ice pond is nearby:

From the front portico, the Madisons had a tremendous view of the Blue Ridge:

The horse track and steeple chase were added by the duPonts and are the site of the annual Montpelier Hunt Races.

While the architecture is restored, the National Trust is still researching the interior decor and hunting for furnishings with Madison provenance. The National Trust is anal retentive when it comes to interior photography.

From atop the left side addition, one sees this northern view:
and to south, this statue of James and Dolley:
To the east, the staff was demonstrating 18th century cooking techniques:
This is the backside of the house:
During his presidency, Madison had a formal garden installed about 100 yard southwest of the house. Madison's garden mostly disappeared in the late 19th century but the duPont's restored a two-acre version in the early 20th century, which the Garden Club of Virginia restored in 1992. The horseshoe terraces were from Madison; the beds and ornaments are duPont.














This view from the bottom gate centers on one of several Cedars of Lebanon:
Osage oranges:









The Madison family cemetery is about a half mile west of the house near the site of the original Mount Pleasant house built by Madison's grandparents. Madison's monument is the tall obelisk on the right; Dolley's is the smaller obelisk immediately to the left: