Season 2, Episode 4-James Madison and Montpelier

Posted byvisitingthepresidentsPosted inUncategorizedTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Listen To This Episode!

Season 2, Episode 4-James Madison and Montpelier

The Father of the Constitution has one of the most ambitious renovation projects, to get his home at Montpelier back to the status when James and Dolley Madison resided there. Learn about Madison’s pre-presidency, his tumultuous term, his enigmatic wife, and, of course, his mansion!

Be sure to check out James Madison’s “Visiting the Presidents” Episode from Season 1, “James Madison and Port Conway” for his birthplace!

Also, check out James Madison’s “Visiting the Presidents” Episode from Season 3, “James Madison’s Tomb” for his gravesite!

James Madison’s Montpelier official website.

History of Montpelier from the Digital Montpelier Project.

James Madison’s Montpelier from the National Park Service.

Virtual Tour of Montpelier from Encyclopedia Virginia.

Ongoing battle between Madison Foundation and Descendants’ group, from Washington Post.

From My June 2017 Visit!

Montpelier
James Madison
What a view!
Montpelier!
Montpelier estate
Heading in
Entrance view
Drawing room
Dining room
Temple construction
Looking towards the mansion
Heading into the garden
Garden view
Love the view
English garden
With James and Dolley

From My July 2010 Visit!

Heading into Montpelier!
Montpelier!
James Madison in the visitor center
Joe and James
Montpelier entrance
At Montpelier
The slave quarters reconstruction from the roof
Looking out on the approach
With James and Dolley
Struggling to understand
In the garden
Wandering around

From My June 2022 Visit!

Entering Montpelier
With James and Dolley
At Montpelier!
Montpelier
From the front porch
Checking out the art in the entrance hall
I love the Drawing Room
Presidential portraits in the Drawing Room
Dramatic touches
A feast for the eyes
Thomas Jefferson and James and Dolley Madison
In the Drawing Room!
Love that room
Dining Room!
Visiting the Dining Room
Looking into the bedroom
The desk where James Madison toiled at Montpelier
James Madison’s cabinet
In James Madison’s study
The back of the home
Montpelier!
The ice house
Checking out the gardens
In the English garden
Garden tripping

From My June 2023 Visit!

Montpelier
In the entrance to Montpelier
Entrance Hall
Nelly, James’s mother’s, suite
In Nelly’s suite
In the striking red Drawing Room
With the portraits of Presidents George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison
Portraits of Thomas Jefferson, James and Dolley Madison
Mantle
Drawing Room
In the Drawing Room
Other angle of the Drawing Room
Entrance Hall
Dining Room, set for Lafayette’s visit
Dining room
Dining room
In Madison’s office suite on the first floor
Office area
Secretary
The bedroom where James Madison died
James Madison’s bed
Payne’s room
James and Dolley’s bedroom
James and Dolley’s bed
The office where James Madison worked and wrote the Constitution
Bookcases in Library
James Madison’s desk
Back view of Montpelier
Montpelier
Montpelier!
Montpelier Drawing Room, from One Road at a Time.
Montpelier Dining Room, from ABC13.com.
Montpelier Library, from Montpelier.org.
Montpelier’s Expansion over the Years, from Colonial Williamsburg (pink stucco is the du Pont renovation).
Floorplans showing expansion of Montpelier, from Colonial Williamsburg.
Montpelier shortly after Madison’s death.
James and Dolley Madison from White House Historical Association.

James Madison’s Home, Montpelier: 11350 Constitution Hwy, Montpelier Station, VA.

Check Out the Most Recent Episodes!

How I Spent My Summer of Presidential Travels 2026, Part 1! – Visiting the Presidents

BONUS episode featuring my summer of presidential travels as I fit in as many birthplaces, gravesites, homes, and other sites into one history professor's summer break. My trip back to Ohio from Arizona, and the start of my New England swing! Links to Previous Episodes Mentioned:Birthplaces"Andrew Johnson and Raleigh""Calvin Coolidge and Plymouth Notch""Lyndon Johnson and Stonewall"Homes"Franklin Pierce and Concord""Abraham Lincoln and Springfield""Benjamin Harrison and Indianapolis""Calvin Coolidge and Northampton" for the Coolidge Homestead"Franklin Roosevelt and Warm Springs" for Campobello Island "Lyndon Johnson and the LBJ Ranch"Gravesites"Millard Fillmore's Tomb""Franklin Pierce's Tomb" "Abraham Lincoln's Tomb""Benjamin Harrison's Tomb" "Calvin Coolidge's Tomb""Lyndon Johnson's Tomb" Support the showAlso, check out “Visiting the Presidents” on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! Support the showAlso, check out “Visiting the Presidents” on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! 
  1. How I Spent My Summer of Presidential Travels 2026, Part 1!
  2. S3 E38 Gerald Fords Tomb
  3. S3 E37 Richard Nixon's Tomb
  4. S3 E36 Lyndon Johnson's Tomb
  5. S3 E35 John F Kennedy's Tomb
Noah Feldman, The Three Lives of James Madison: Genius, Partisan, President.
Ralph Ketchum, James Madison: A Biography.
Richard Brookhiser, James Madison.
Catherine Allgor, A Perfect Union: Dolley Madison and the Creation of the American Nation.

Published by visitingthepresidents

I'm a Professor of History at Central Arizona College and someone who loves history and travel; my new blog will combine those interests!

3 thoughts on “Season 2, Episode 4-James Madison and Montpelier”

  1. Pingback: Season 1, Episode 4-James Madison and Port Conway – Visiting the Presidents
  2. Pingback: Season 2, Episode 47-My Top Fifteen Presidential Homes and Season 2 Recap! – Visiting the Presidents
  3. Pingback: Season 3, Episode 4-James Madison’s Tomb – Visiting the Presidents

Leave a Reply