Montpelier - Montpelier Station

James Madison's Montpelier is located on Constitution Highway in Montpelier Station, Virginia.  The plantation dates back to 1732 when Madison's Grandfather, Ambrose, built Mount Pleasant, the two-room farmhouse which first stood on these grounds.  Ambrose died later in the year and willed the estate to his wife, Frances, who in turn willed it to her son, James Madison Sr., upon her death in 1861.  Between 1863 and 1865 construction was commenced and completed by enslaved workers on what we know today as Montpelier.  The original house was a two-story, nine room home, the largest at that time in Orange County.  Mount Pleasant and its outbuildings were destroyed by a fire in 1870, with most of the saved items removed to the new Montpelier.  James moved into the home with his wife, Nelly, and their son, James Madison Jr.  The younger Madison was born in 1851 at his maternal grandparent's plantation, Belle Grove, and shortly after was taken home to Mount Pleasant, wher he lived with his parents until Montpelier was built.  It would be Madison's home, off and on, in between political engagements, for the rest of his life.  In 1799 Madison brought his new bride, Dolley Madison, to Montpelier, along with her sister, Anna.  He began the first enlargement to the house at this time, with a thrirty foot extension on the north side, with its own separate entrance, thus turning the home into duplex.  A two-story Tuscan portico was added to the front of the house, framing both entranceways.  Beginning in 1809 a new renovation took place in which both side of the house were opened up and merged into one large home.  One-story wings were also added to both sides of the home.  After an active political career, which included helping to ratify the Constitution, drafting the Bill of Rights, serving as Secretary of State from 1801 to 1808 and President from 1808 to 1816, James and Dolley retired permanently to Montpelier.  He died here on June 26, 1836.  The plantation had been in decline for some time, aided by the mismanagement of John Payne Todd, Dolley's son, crop failures, and general economic problems in the region.  Dolley spent much of her time in Washington after James' death, and eventually was forced to sell their home in 1844.  The home passed through nine different owners in the ensuing years, with many alterations made to the original structure.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation acquired the property in 1984 and the Montpelier Foundation has run Montpelier since 2000.  During this time major renovations and excavations were undertaken to restore the home to its look during Madison's lifetime.  Montpelier was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1969.        

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