Montpelier
Produced by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, Natural and Historical Resources Division PPC PR PA 1/15
The Department of Parks and Recreation encourages and supports the participation of individuals with disabilities. Register at least a minimum of two weeks in advance of the program start date to request and receive a disability accommodation.
Calendar of Events 2015
INFORMATION: 301-377-7817 TTY 301-699-2544
GIFT SHOP: Thursday–Tuesday, 11 am–3 pm. Visit our NEW online shop! Go to www.pgparks.com, click on “About Parks & Recreation” then click on e-store.
RENTALS: The mansion is available for small gatherings, luncheons and meeting rentals. Call for details.
TOURS: A modest admission fee is charged. Partially accessible. Guided Tours: March – November only, Sundays, 12 noon, 1 pm, 2 pm and 3 pm, on the hour Self-Guided Tours: Year-round, Thursday–Tuesday, between 11 am–3 pm. Group Tours: Available for groups of 10 or more. Reservations required.
OFFICE HOURS: Thursday–Tuesday, 9 am – 5 pm (closed Wednesday and major holidays except where noted)
N AT I O N A L H I S T O R I C L A N D M A R K
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DIRECTIONS: From the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Route 295), exit at Route 197. Turn west onto Route 197 (toward Laurel) and continue 1/4 mile to Muirkirk Rd. Turn left, then make the first right into the Montpelier grounds.
The Snowdens’ reputation for hospitality and the proximity of their home to the main road to northern cities made Montpelier host to many famous people. George and Martha Washington, as well as Abigail Adams, all stayed at Montpelier.
history.pgparks.com
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Montpelier remained in the Snowden family until 1890. The house was restored in the 1980s to reflect the occupation of Nicholas Snowden, who inherited the house and owned it until his death in 1831. Now a National Historic Landmark, Montpelier is one of the finest examples of 18th c. Georgian architecture in the state. The landscape features a rare surviving 18th c. summer house. Also located on the grounds is the Montpelier Arts Center, a multi-faceted, community-oriented facility that offers art exhibitions, classes, performances and professional artist studios. Gallery Hours: Seven days a week, 10 am–5 pm (closed major holidays). Entrance to the galleries is free. For class and performance schedules, please call 301-3777800; TTY 301-490-2329.
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Volunteer at Montpelier! Many positions are available, from giving tours to office work to gardening.
Learn, make friends and have fun! THE FRIENDS OF MONTPELIER, a volunteer organization, works with M-NCPPC staff to preserve the site’s heritage and assist in maintaining the mansion as an historic house museum. Both Snowden and Long (Montpelier’s last
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owners) descendants have joined the Friends and continue to support the museum. Members of the group serve as docents and assist in presenting programs throughout the year. For more Friends of Montpelier sell flowers during the Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts.
information, or to join the Friends of Montpelier, call 301-377-7817.
Saturday, November 21, 1:30 pm Needle and Thread Tea to Celebrate Needleart’s 20th Anniversary Saturday, October 17, 1:30 pm Masquerade Tea Montpelier Arts Center
Saturday, May 9, 1:30 pm Mother’s Day Tea Saturday, April 11, 1:30 pm Spring Bonnet Tea
See the Summer House
Saturday, March 21, 1:30 pm Women Explorers’ Tea Saturday, February 14, 1:30 pm Chocolate Lovers’ Tea FEE: $29 per person; $25 for members of Friends of Montpelier. Price includes self-guided tour of the house and gratuity. Reservations and advance payment required. Tour the house.
Historical Kitchen Exhibit–Enslaved Workers
njoy afternoon tea at Montpelier, including fine finger sandwiches, scrumptious cakes and pastries, buttery scones, and your choice of two quality loose leaf teas.
E Explore the garden and tell time by the sun.
Explore Montpelier’s Historic Landscape
First Class U.S. Postage
Permit #1083 Riverdale, MD
LOCATION: Muirkirk Rd., just off Route 197, Laurel, Maryland. 1/4 mile west of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Also located on the grounds are the Montpelier Arts Center offering art exhibits, concerts and classes.
Seventy acres and the house itself remain of what was once a land holding of approximately 9,000 acres. Enslaved workers and indentured servants provided the labor as field hands and skilled craftsmen at the plantation and the Patuxent Ironworks.
Walk in the woods
There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. – H e n r y J a m e s
9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708
M
MONTPELIER’S CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN 1781 by Ann Ridgely and Major Thomas Snowden, both members of prominent Maryland families. Two firebacks in the house inscribed “TSA 1783” indicate the owners and probable completion year of the mansion.
Saturday, December 12, 1:30 pm Sunday, December 13, 1:30 pm Saturday, December 19, 1:30 pm Sunday, December 20, 1:30 pm Holiday Teas
Montpelier Mansion
Montpelier Mansion
A Little Bit of History
M ontpelier 2015 2015 Calendar of Events
301-377-7817
HOME SCHOOLERS!
| TTY 301-699-2544 | history.pgparks.com |
Please call to verify dates.
FREE FIRST FRIDAYS!*
Check out our Home School Days on May 12 and September 15!
GIRL SCOUTS & CUB SCOUTS
March–October 10 am: Pocketful of Stories – Story time & activities for pre-schoolers 11 am– 4 pm: Free selfguided tours & tavern games.
Students act out making charcoal at Metal Heads, a home school program about the iron industry in Laurel.
A variety of scout programs available. Call for details. Brownies earn their hiker badge.
* NOTE: Blast-in-the-Past fees still apply on Friday, August 7 Girls play with old-fashioned toys.
Chesapeake Math & IT Academy Charter School (CMIT) Annual Art Exhibit Exhibit: Tuesday, January 6 – Friday, February 20 11 am – 3 pm (closed Wednesdays) Opening Reception: Friday, January 9, 4 – 6 pm All ages; FREE with regular admission Each year, different venues host the annual CMIT art exhibit. This year, Montpelier is honored to display the work of these talented young artists from this Laurel charter school. Each BY TAYLOR VIRGIL student will display a major piece from the school year. The theme for the exhibit is Autumn Landscapes and Scenes, which students have interpreted through various techniques. BY J ADEN KEELS
Chocolate Lovers’ Tea Saturday, February 14, 1:30 pm
Hidden Treasure: Restoration and Archeology at Montpelier Exhibit: Monday, March 9 – Thursday, April 30, 11 am – 3 pm (closed Wednesdays) Opening Reception: Saturday, March 14, 1– 3 pm BEFORE FEE (includes regular tour admission): $3/ages 19 & up; $2/ages 60 & better; $1/ages 6-18; FREE/ages 5 & under. All ages See some of the 4,000 artifacts found by archeologists during Montpelier’s year-long restoration in 2013. These artifacts will help reveal dramatic changes of how the residents of Montpelier lived. There will be kids’ activities to learn about the science of archeology and the importance of preservation. The Spring History Lecture Series, below, will feature talks on archeology, historic preservaAFTER tion, and conservation.
Mother’s Day Tea Saturday, May 9, 1:30 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
Sponsored by Stitching Pretty of Laurel
Black History Month Family Program: Meet Benjamin Banneker! Saturday, February 28, 1– 3 pm Fee: $4/ Prince George’s and Montgomery County residents; $5/Non-Residents. All ages Benjamin Banneker, as played by Bob Smith, will visit and tell us about his work as an astronomer, mathematician, almanac writer and farmer. Enjoy crafts and other surprises for people of all ages.
Montpelier hosts the 20th annual Needleart Exhibit. See the rooms of Montpelier filled with a dazzling array of stitched art, from needlepoint to ribbon work. Judges choose winners in several categories, and visitors are invited to vote for the “People’s Choice” award. Demonstrations of various needle art techniques are given daily.
Women Explorers’ Tea Saturday, March 21, 1:30 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
Spring Bonnet Tea Saturday, April 11, 1:30 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
Blast-in-the-Past: A Hands-On History Playground Thursdays-Saturdays, July 9-August 8, 11 am – 4 pm Fee: Resident $2/day; Non-Resident $3/day Self-guided tours of the mansion will be available for an additional fee. The Montpelier grounds will be transformed into a kid-sized colonial village! Young visitors can “camp out” in the wilderness, design a hat at the milliners, get “water” from the well, and much more. A variety of activities will be available daily. Come for an hour or stay for the day. Drop-in, no reservations required.
Sunday, February 15, 2 pm (Snow date: February 22) Reservations required. Ages 12 & up Fee: $15/person; $10/Friends of Montpelier Member
This piece is called ‘For the Birds’ and is designed and stitched by the late Gail Reinhardt, one of the original founders of the Needleart Exhibit at Montpelier Mansion. This wonderful creation reminds us of days of old, and will transport you back in time to gentler ways and renew your spirit through needle and thread!
Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea & the Arts
Learn about the work that goes into preserving the past for the future. These lectures complement the Hidden Treasure exhibit, above. Doors open at 6 pm; come early to see the exhibit before the lecture. Refreshments will be served. FREE Wednesday, March 18, 7:30 pm Tom Vitanza, Senior Architect for the National Parks Service (NPS), speaks on historic preservation for the NPS and other preservation projects. Wednesday, April 15, 7:30 pm Paul Kreisa, Senior Archaeologist and Principal Investigator for Stantec, lead the archeological excavations for Montpelier’s 2013 restoration. Kreisa will talk about what they discovered, and how the mansion and its outdoor space changed as a result of events associated with the outcome of the Civil War. Wednesday, May 20, 7:30 pm Stephen Powers, who coordinated the effort to preserve, promote, and protect the 40 sites that are home to 37 of the original stones from the 1791–1792 Andrew Ellicott survey of the boundary layout of Washington, DC., will speak on this project and other aspects of D.C.’s boundary stones.
Boundary Stone NE 2 between the District of Columbia and Takoma Park, Maryland. PHOTO: BRUCE ANDERSON
Needle and Thread: Celebrating 20 Years of the Needleart Exhibit
Opening Reception: Sunday, November 1, 1– 4 pm Fee: $6/ages 18 & up; $5/ages 60 & better; $3/ages 17 & under
George Washington Musicale
Archeology, Historic Preservation and Conservation: Montpelier’s Spring History Lecture Series
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Exhibit: Sunday, November 1 – Sunday, November 29, 11 am – 4 pm. (Closed Wednesdays and Thanksgiving.)
See tea schedule on back for details.
Three members of Musicians of Mercy (MOM), Marlissa Hudson, Soprano; Robin Fay MassiePighee, Violist; and Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan, Pianist, will play classical music to honor our first president. MOM is a non-profit collective of over 70 musicians and artists based in the metropolitan area. Founded and directed by violist Robin Fay Massie-Pighee, the group was formed in January 2010 to raise funds to assist victims of natural disasters and other tragedies through benefit concerts. Free-will donations will be accepted to benefit Serenity’s Door, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women affected by domestic violence to take control of their lives. Sponsored by the Friends of Montpelier and funded in part by the Maryland MOM Founder Robin Fay Massie-Pighee State Arts Council.
Shop
Saturday, April 25, 10 am–4 pm All ages; FREE (Fees apply for tea.) Join us for the 19th year of this family-oriented festival. Montpelier brings you a day that will delight your senses, with over 30 vendors of handmade arts and crafts, live music, tea and scones in the mansion, and 70 acres of beautiful grounds to explore. New this year! Jailbreak Brewing Company will be giving samples of beers made with basil and cilantro! We’ll also have tours of the historic house, gardening talks, nature walks, art demos, and more. Visit the Art Center’s galleries and studios. This is a great opportunity to find the perfect Mother’s Day gift! Kids can play in the popular hands-on history playground, dress up in colonial costume, see a live animal exhibit, and more. Online tea tickets can be purchased until 12 midnight on Friday, April 24.
Home School Day: Weathering Racism—The Benjamin Banneker Almanacs
Needle and Thread Tea to Celebrate Needleart’s 20th Anniversary Home-School Day: Hidden Wonders—Discovering the Natural World in Your Own Backyard Tuesday, September 15, 1– 4 pm Fee: $6 / Prince George’s and Montgomery County residents; $7/ Non-Resident Home-schooled students and their educators will discover the hidden secrets that nature holds around Montpelier. We’ll walk the grounds and learn about what lives under, around and above us. Then we’ll do a variety of activities, which could include art, math and science projects.
Masquerade Tea
Tuesday, May 12, 1 – 4 pm Fee: $6/Prince George’s and Montgomery County Residents; $7/Non-Residents Blast-in-the-Past Playground only fee: $2/Residents, $3/Non-Residents
Saturday, October 17, 1:30 pm
Home-schooled students (ages 8–12) and their educators will do science and math activities, and study primary documents to learn about Benjamin Banneker and his almanacs, weather instruments, and more. Reservations are required. For ages 2–6, Blastin-the-Past, the hands-on history playground, will also be open!
Friday, October 23, 6 – 9 pm Fee: $1 0/ Prince George’s and Montgomery County residents; $15/Non-Residents; $5/Friends of Montpelier Member
Cover of Benjamin Banneker’s 1795 Almanac.
See tea schedule on back for details.
Tales from the Dearly Departed
Hear haunting tales, shop at the “Beyond” marketplace, and take a candlelight tour of Montpelier….If you dare! Guest presenter on paranormal activities to be announced. Reservations and advance payment required.
Saturday, November 21, 1:30 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
Ornament Emporium Monday, December 7–Thursday, December 31, 11 am – 3 pm (closed Wednesdays) See and shop for original, handmade ornaments in a traditional holiday setting at this juried show featuring area artists. While you’re here, visit the Montpelier gift shop for the Montpelier ornament, music, books, old-fashioned toys, memorabilia, tea and tea accoutrements, and more.
Holiday Tours Tuesday, December 8 – Thursday, December 31, 11 am – 3 pm (closed Wednesdays) Fee: $3/ages 19 & up; $2/ages 60 & better; $1/ages 6-18; Free/ages 5 & under See Montpelier dressed up for the holidays on these self-guided tours. Rooms decorated in traditional greens by local garden clubs.
Evening Candlelight Tours Friday, December 11, 6 – 9 pm See Montpelier decorated and lit by candlelight. Docents in the rooms tell you about the house and Christmas traditions of old. Musical entertainment provided by area performers. Light refreshments served.