Montpelier Foundation

A MEMORIAL TO JAMES MADISON AND THE ENSLAVED COMMUNITY, A MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY, AND A CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL EDUCATION THAT ENGAGES THE PUBLIC WITH THE ENDURING LEGACY OF MADISON'S MOST POWERFUL IDEA: GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE.

EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT: WORKING CLOSELY WITH ARCHAEOLOGY, HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND COLLECTIONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT OVERSEES ALL PUBLIC PROGRAMMING AT MONTPELIER. THIS INCLUDES DEVELOPING TOUR CONTENT, INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE, AND PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENT AND ADULT GROUPS. THE DEPARTMENT ALSO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING THE INTERPRETIVE AND VISITOR SERVICES STAFF. IT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF THE AWARD-WINNING EXHIBITION THE MERE DISTINCTION OF COLOUR.

HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND COLLECTIONS:HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND COLLECTIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF MONTPELIER'S HISTORIC STRUCTURES - MANY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DUPONT ERA - IN ADDITION TO LEADING SIGNIFICANT HISTORIC RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS SUCH AS THE SOUTH YARD. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ARCHITECTURAL FIELDWORK BY EXAMINING WOOD SPECIES, NAILS, WINDOWS, DECORATIVE MOULDINGS, AND MORE, TO ENSURE THAT THE RECONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS ARE AS HISTORICALLY ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE. FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE RESTORATION OF THE TEMPLE, THE RECOVERY OF A SINGLE MADISON-ERA SHINGLE WHILE INVESTIGATING THE ROOF FRAMING LED TO THE DETERMINATION THAT THE TEMPLE ROOF WAS ORIGINALLY PAINTED RED. CURATORIAL AND COLLECTIONS IS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE FURNISHING OF THE HOUSE AND OTHER RECONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS ON THE PROPERTY. ALL OF THE INSTALLATIONS AND ACQUISITIONS ARE BASED, AT LEAST IN PART, ON THE WORK AND DISCOVERIES OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS LIKE ARCHAEOLOGY, RESEARCH, AND ARCHITECTURAL PRESERVATION. RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE THE FURNISHING PLANS FOR THE SOUTH YARD QUARTERS; THE ACQUISITION OF THE ARTWORK IN THE SOUTH PASSAGE OF THE HOUSE; THE ACQUISITION OF OBJECTS CONNECTED TO DOLLEY MADISON: A LADY'S POCKET WATCH, SEWING KIT, AND MINIATURE PAINTING OF THE YOUNG MRS. MADISON; AND THE MOST RECENT FURNISHINGS OF JOHN PAYNE TODD'S BEDROOM, A GUEST BEDROOM, AND AN "INTERACTIVE" ROOM.

ARCHAEOLOGY:MONTPELIER'S DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY SPENDS APPROXIMATELY TWO-THIRDS OF THE YEAR ENGAGING IN ACTIVE ONSITE EXCAVATIONS, WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR SPENT IN THE LAB CATALOGUING, ANALYZING, AND MENDING ARTIFACTS. THEIR DISCOVERIES ALLOW MONTPELIER TO PROVIDE ACCURATE HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION OF THE PLANTATION, INCLUDING THE RECENTLY RESTORED BUILDINGS IN THE SOUTH YARD THAT HOUSED THE ENSLAVED COMMUNITY DURING MADISON'S LIFETIME. EMBRACING "CITIZEN SCIENCE," THE DEPARTMENT HOSTS THE PUBLIC FOR MULTIPLE IMMERSIVE PROGRAMS WHERE PARTICIPANTS WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS, OFFERING MULTIPLE PROGRAM FORMATS, FROM ONE DAY TO A WHOLE WEEK.

ROBERT H. SMITH CENTER FOR THE CONSTITUTION:THE ROBERT H. SMITH CENTER FOR THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES WORLD-CLASS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, BOTH ON-SITE AND ONLINE. PARTICIPANTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO ENGAGE IN CIVIC DIALOGUE, IMPROVE THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED STATES, AND DEEPEN THEIR POTENTIAL INVOLVEMENT IN DEMOCRACY. SPECIFIC PROGRAMMING IS OFFERED FOR EDUCATORS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, AND INTERNATIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS.