Montpelier.
Virginia home of our nation's 4th president and "Father of the Constitution,"
James Madison and his famously hospitable wife Dolley.
Montpelier is located only 18 miles from Monticello,
home of Thomas Jefferson; the friends visited often.
These men were 2 of the 8 Virginians who became United States Presidents.
Sharing photos with you from our afternoon at Montpelier
as we traveled through the historic state of Virginia.
A bust of Mr. Madison is in the Visitor's Center.
To my dismay, no photos could be taken inside the mansion,
which is very often the case with historical buildings.
Perfectly understandable. (I guess.)
The Madisons' beautiful view.
The Blue Ridge Mountains were hazy that day, but still visible in the far distance.
The Blue Ridge Mountains were hazy that day, but still visible in the far distance.
On either side of the main house, basement-level rooms
served as the kitchen and work areas for the slaves.
A photo of the kitchen, with its half-circle window.
(Yes, photos permitted here.)
James Madison's "temple", used in the logo to represent Montpelier, as shown above,
sits just to the north of the mansion. It was under restoration during our visit.
Built on top of a 24 foot deep ice well, it was used as a place for repose and reflection.
The Madison Family Cemetery
A tall obelisk marks the final resting place of President Madison,
with a much smaller one for his wife Dolley, directly behind.
An engraving on another family member's obelisk that warmed my heart~
You can find great information about James Madison
and Montpelier at the Montpelier website.
Check back for my upcoming post on Monticello!
