The photo on the top left is of Chatham Manor in Fredericksburg. Montpelier is lower right. Connie and I are sitting with James and Dolley Madison. Connie and Dolley have a lot in common.
When we started out this morning we were going to visit both Montpelier and Monticello. But, there was so much to see at Madison’s museum and at Montpelier that Monticello will have to wait until tomorrow.
Madison’s museum is in the town of Orange, next to an Episcopal Church, circa 1740. Next to the church is a tree where Robert E. Lee tied up his horse. It’s a nice museum with history, family furniture and artifacts. But the high spot of the day was Montpelier.
Montpelier was the family home of the Madison’s. James Madison II was born there and died there (1836). We stood in his library where he wrote the Constitution of the United States. We stood in the dining room where he entertained such people as Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Aaron Burr, and many others. Madison had quite a career in public service; Secretary of State, ‘Father of the Constitution,’ author of the Bill of Rights, and the Forth President. And his wife, Dolley Madison was not only First Lady for Madison, but also for Thomas Jefferson (a widower). She is also credited with saving the portrait of George Washington from the White House when the British burned it during the War of 1812.
Montpelier was sold by Dolley Madison after the President died and was bought and sold many times before the DuPont’s bought it in 1901. They added on 24,000 sq. ft. to the original 12,000 sq. ft. house and turned some of the 60,000 acres into a horse track and stables. In 1984 Montpelier was given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2003, 24,000,000 was spent to restore it to its original detail. The architectural part of the restoration is done. Now they are working on finding and restoring the furnishings.
Montpelier is a “Must See” if you are traveling in Virginia.
When we started out this morning we were going to visit both Montpelier and Monticello. But, there was so much to see at Madison’s museum and at Montpelier that Monticello will have to wait until tomorrow.
Madison’s museum is in the town of Orange, next to an Episcopal Church, circa 1740. Next to the church is a tree where Robert E. Lee tied up his horse. It’s a nice museum with history, family furniture and artifacts. But the high spot of the day was Montpelier.
Montpelier was the family home of the Madison’s. James Madison II was born there and died there (1836). We stood in his library where he wrote the Constitution of the United States. We stood in the dining room where he entertained such people as Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, Aaron Burr, and many others. Madison had quite a career in public service; Secretary of State, ‘Father of the Constitution,’ author of the Bill of Rights, and the Forth President. And his wife, Dolley Madison was not only First Lady for Madison, but also for Thomas Jefferson (a widower). She is also credited with saving the portrait of George Washington from the White House when the British burned it during the War of 1812.
Montpelier was sold by Dolley Madison after the President died and was bought and sold many times before the DuPont’s bought it in 1901. They added on 24,000 sq. ft. to the original 12,000 sq. ft. house and turned some of the 60,000 acres into a horse track and stables. In 1984 Montpelier was given to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2003, 24,000,000 was spent to restore it to its original detail. The architectural part of the restoration is done. Now they are working on finding and restoring the furnishings.
Montpelier is a “Must See” if you are traveling in Virginia.
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