Virginia President's Tour - Montpelier

Thursday, October 18

We had been planning a short trip to visit the homes of some of the US President’s from Virginia.  Our plan was to combine this bit of history with beautiful fall colors and a visit to our long time friends Steve and Margaret Cathcart in Fairfield VA.  Well, two out of three was what we got - since the fall colors have not arrived this year.

We left at 8 AM so that we could visit Madison’s home Montpelier before arriving in Charlottesville.  We headed up I-81 in sunshine. The kudsu coming up I-81 showed no signs of frost so no way the trees could be turning. 

 After one rest stop we turned east on I-64 and a lunch stop. The mountains around Waynesboro were beautiful but no color.  We drove around the outskirts of Charlottesville and heading north of 231 to reach Montpelier Station. The trip up 231 was pleasant as we passed by numerous horse farms and country homes.  The rolling farmland probably not changed much since the days of Madison and Jefferson.

Montpelier is much less a major attraction than Mt. Vernon, The Hermitage, and Monticello.  However, we thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the home of James and Dolly Madison.  The emphasis is on the life and accomplishments of our 4^rd president; but also places significant emphasis on the
Constitution and its’ impact on our lives in America. There is ongoing study of the constitution at a nearby facility.  James Madison served in the VA legislature before serving as a representative to the Continental Congress where he was one of the primary authors of our constitution. He had studies governments around the globe and what had caused their downfalls.  When he drafted the VA plan which became the framework for our constitution;  James Madison was only 36 years old.  After the constitution was written it had to be ratified. The often discussed Federalist Papers, were 85 articles for newspapers explaining why our country needed the constitution – they were written by Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.  Madison then served as Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson before becoming president.

James and Dolley Madison

Montpelier

View to the Blue Ridge Mountains

The setting for the plantation is lovely with views across the rolling farmland to the blue ridge mountains. Dolley Madison was a much loved first lady. She was known as a fantastic hostess and a true asset to her husband’s presidency.  She is also credited with saving the White House painting of George Washington during the burning of the White House near the end of the War of 1812. She lived long after her husband’s death in Washington because Montpelier was lost due to debts.  Photos are not allowed inside the home so my photos are from outside.  After his retirement from the presidency Dolley helped James complete his notes from the Constitutional Convention and these reside in the Library of Congress today.

On a side note – I love the camera on my (new to me) I-phone.  It is a I-phone 6 s and replaced my I Phone 4 that was about 5 years old.  The camera is really great and certainly does everything I need and more!

The home tour was excellent – in fact better than either Mt. Vernon or the Hermitage.  At both of those we were taken through the home in groups and as we went from room to room had different guides in each room.  Here the same guide took us through the entire home and related many interesting stories.  The movie was good and they had excellent exhibits about both the president and the constitution.

About 4:30 we headed back to Charlottesville.  The GPS took us on a different road again through some nice farmland.  Our hotel – The English Inn – was very nice. 

The English Inn

On trips through Charlottesville before we never quite understood the layout of the city.  Still not sure we do but we easily found the hotel and found a great restaurant nearby – the Aberdeen Barn – and we split a shrimp cocktail, an excellent prime rib, salad, and baked potato. 

Shrimp Cocktail

Almost half the Prime Rib

  Jane visited in the lobby of the hotel with a tour guide for the Roads Scholar Group.  We get promotion materials about their tours all around the country.  She was hosting a 3 President’s Tour – after chatting a bit told her we were on a 4 President’s Tour!