Permit #1083 Riverdale, MD
Montpelier
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N AT I O N A L H I S T O R I C L A N D M A R K
H I S T O R I C
A Little Bit of History
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S I T E
NOW A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, Montpelier’s construction began in 1781 by Ann Ridgley and Major Thomas Snowden, both members of prominent Maryland families. Two firebacks in the house, inscribed “TSA 1783” indicate the owners and the year the central block of the house was likely completed. This Georgian house and land holdings of approximately 9,000 acres — which contained the Patuxent Ironworks and a vast plantation of tobacco and other crops — was home to four generations of the Snowdens, indentured servants and enslaved individuals. Major Thomas’ estate inventory lists
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the names and ages of 169 enslaved people with descriptions such as: Ben, a 28 year-old blacksmith,
The Snowdens’ reputation for genteel hospitality and the proximity of their home to the main road to northern cities made Montpelier host to famous individuals, such as George and Martha Washington, and Abigail Adams. The property was owned by the Snowden family until 1890. Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Montpelier, who advocated to restore Montpelier in the 1980s, visitors have explored this house for decades. 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. PPC PR PA 12/18
INFORMATION: 301-377-7817 TTY 301-699-2544
GIFT SHOP HOURS: 10 am–4 pm (closed Wednesday) Visit our online shop!
RENTALS: The mansion is available for small gatherings, luncheons and meetings.
SCOUT AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS: See inside.
TOURS: A modest admission fee is charged. Partially accessible. Guided Tours: Monthly, 4th Sunday at 1 and 2:30 pm. Please call to verify. Self-Guided Tours: Year-round, Thurs–Tue, 11 am– 3 pm. Group Tours: Reservations required for groups of 10 or more.
OFFICE HOURS: Thurs –Tue, 9 am – 5 pm (closed Wednesday and major holidays except where noted)
DIRECTIONS: From the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Rt 295), exit at Rt 197. Turn west onto Rt 197 (toward Laurel) and continue 1/4 mile to Muirkirk Rd. Turn left, then make the first right into Montpelier.
LOCATION: Muirkirk Rd., just off Rt. 197, 1/4 mile west of the BaltimoreWashington Parkway. Also located on the grounds is the Montpelier Arts Center.
Montpelier Historic Site
9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708
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Seventy acres, the main house, and
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summerhouse remain. Large trees and boxwoods grace the landscape.
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Also located on the grounds is the
From giving tours to office work to gardening, to
Montpelier Arts Center, a multi-
being a tea hostess or assisting with hands-on-history
faceted facility, offering a wide range
programs, there are many ways to help. Please e-mail
of arts programming, along with
montpeliermansion@pgparks.com for more information.
artists’ studios. For a full listing of
THE FRIENDS OF MONTPELIER, a volunteer
activities and hours of operation go to
organization, works with
arts.pgparks.com or call 301-377-7800.
M-NCPPC staff to preserve the site’s history. For more information, call
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2019
301-377-7817.
history.pgparks.com Facebook/PGParksHistory
Explore Montpelier’s Historic Landscape Granite statue adorns outdoor seating area behind Carriage House.
Teas! A woman is like a tea bag— you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.
Explore the garden and tell time by the sun.
– E l e a n o r R o o s e v e lt
A
fternoon tea at Montpelier includes fine finger sandwiches, scrumptious cakes and pastries, buttery scones, and your choice of two quality loose leaf teas.
Tour & Gift Shop Entrance
FEE: $30 + tax per person; $26 + tax for Friends of Montpelier members. Price includes self-guided tour of the house and gratuity. Reservations and payment required by the Wednesday before the tea.
Tour the house. Historical Kitchen Exhibit–Enslaved Workers
Chocolate Lovers’ Tea Saturday, February 9, 11 am & 2 pm Women’s History Month Tea: Celebrating Suffragists Saturday, March 16, 2 pm Followed by a staged reading of 19: The Musical at 3:30 pm (see details and cost for reading on other side) Montpelier Arts Center
See the Summer House
Festival Tea Saturday, April 27 – Timed seatings (for ticket information, visit pgparks.com, click on Festivals, then choose Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts)
Montpelier Gift Shop is open during tours and special events or visit pgparks.com and click on e-store to shop online
Walk in the woods MAP COURTESY OF CARISSA DEMORE
Mother’s Day Tea Saturday, May 11; 11 am & 2 pm Tea with the Dearly Departed Saturday, October 19, 5 pm Beyond Needlework Tea Saturday, November 9, 2 pm Holiday Teas Saturday, December 14, 11 am & 2pm Sunday, December 15, 11 am & 2 pm
M ontpelier 2019 2019 Calendar of Events
301-377-7817
| TTY 301-699-2544 | history.pgparks.com |
Please call to verify dates.
SPRING
SUMMER
FALL
WINTER
Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts April 27
Blast-in-the-Past, the hands-on history playground July 11– August 3
Dearly Departed Tea October 19
Artists’ Boutique November 4– December 27
BACKGROUND, ANISE, 2019 HERB OF THE YEAR. CREDIT: TWINS_NIKA, ISTOCK
Chocolate Lovers’ Tea
The Fugitive Slave Cases: Moral Choice and Enforcement of Law
Saturday, February 9, 11 am & 2 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
Memorabilia Preservation Workshop Saturday, March 9, 11 am – 1 pm In commemoration of the 19th Amendment and the “women’s lib” movement, Montpelier is hosting an election memorabilia preservation workshop. Be a part of the discussion featuring a selection of original suffragist items from the collection of National Women’s Party. Collections Manager Joseph Sherren and Deputy Director of National Women’s Party, Jennifer Krafchik, will teach you how to care for and store sashes, hats, buttons, posters and fliers. Adults; Residents/$10; Non-residents/$15. RSVP and advance payment required.
Hidden Spaces Tour
Hidden Spaces Tour
Silver and Sangria
Sunday, May 5, 4 pm (also Sundays, June 2, September 8, and October 6)
Sunday, October 6, 4 pm
Saturday, November 16, 6 – 8 pm
Saturday, April 6, 2 pm
See April 7 for details.
History Talk Sponsored by the Friends of Montpelier
See April 7 for details.
See tea schedule on back for details.
Before the holidays get into full swing, indulge a cup of cheer and make a luxurious gift for someone on your list (or keep it for yourself!). Silver artist, Michelle Arsenault teaches you to make your own silver jewelry with Precious Metal Clay, made from reclaimed silver. Beginners welcome! Adults, $40. Reservations and advance payment required.
Hidden Spaces Tour
Holiday Tours
As a teacher of legal ethics, Professor Rubinson has long been interested in the tension between professional obligations and moral imperatives. An example of this tension is when abolitionist judges were confronted with the question of whether to order the return of alleged runaway slaves under the Fugitive Slave Act. Professor Rubinson will explore the agonizing choices these judges faced, and examine documents of the time, including runaway ads placed by Major Thomas Snowden of Montpelier. Adults; FREE
Hidden Spaces Tour Sunday, April 7, 4 pm (also Sundays, May 5, June 2, September 8, and October 6) Ever wonder what’s behind the doors that say “Staff Only” and “Do Not Enter”? See spaces seldom open to the public, and learn about changes over Montpelier’s 235-year history. Tour includes narrow winding staircases and optional step ladders. Older clothes and comfortable shoes recommended. Ages 16 and up; $15; $10/Friends of Montpelier and Active Military. Reservations required; limited space.
Mother’s Day Tea Saturday, May 11, 11 am & 2 pm
See April 7 for details.
The Queer Chesapeake: LGTBQ+ History in the Mid-Atlantic Thursday, June 13, 7:30 pm Ron Padron and Dr. Christopher Mielke will discuss the hidden history of colonial America and the young Republic. Adults. FREE
Blast-in-the-Past, 8th Annual! Thursdays–Saturdays, July 11 – August 3, 10 am – 3 pm Montpelier’s grounds become a kid-sized colonial village! Come for an hour or stay for the day. Drop in. Win a FREE pass by joining PGMLS’s “Summer@Your Library” program! Saturdays are All-County Days and ALL visitors pay the resident fee! All ages; $2.50/residents, $3/non-residents;
Hidden Spaces Tour Sunday, September 8, 4 pm (also offered Sunday, October 6) See April 7 for details.
Women’s History Month Tea: Celebrating Suffragists!
Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day Live!
Saturday, March 16, 2 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
19: The Musical Saturday, March 16, 3:30 pm A staged reading by Through the 4th Wall Productions of the dynamic and little-known story of Alice Paul, the suffragists and their fight to get women the right to vote — the 19th Amendment. The inspirational story of these fearless women is brought to life through jazz, spoken word, traditional music, and more. Adults; Residents/$8; Non-residents/$10. RSVP and advance payment required.
ALICE PAUL, (1915) RESTORATION BY HARRIS & EWING
Tuesday, December 9– Saturday, December 28 (closed Wednesdays), 11 am – 4 pm
Sunday, June 2, 4 pm (also Sundays, September 8 and October 6)
Tea with the Dearly Departed Saturday, October 19, 5 pm See tea schedule on back for details.
Preservation Workshop and Informal Appraisal Saturday, November 2, 1 – 3 pm Join appraiser Todd Peenstra and Collections Manager Joseph Sherren to get an appraisal of your small, decorative historical objects, and learn how to properly care for them. For larger items, please bring a photograph. Due to limited space, only 5 items per person please. Adults, suggested donation of $5 per item. RSVP.
Saturday, April 27, 10 am– 4 pm (Rain or shine) Delight in the sights, sounds, fragrances and flavors of this celebration of spring. With over 30 vendors of herbs, plants and handmade arts and crafts, live music, tea served in the historic house, the popular Blast-in-the-Past hands-on history playground, and food vendors, there really IS something for everyone! The Friends of Montpelier will be selling flowers and potted plants for their annual fundraiser.
December 14 – 15, 11 am & 2 pm See schedule on back for details.
Monday, November 4– Saturday, November 30 (closed Wednesdays), 11 am– 4 pm OPENING RECEPTION Saturday, November 9, 5:30–7:30 pm, FREE Now in its fourth year, Beyond Needleart displays all kinds of fiber art by local artists. Past exhibitors include the Uhuru Quilt Guild, the Montpelier Arts Center rug hooking class, and the artists of Stitching Pretty. Got a piece you’d like to display? Email us at montpeliermansion@pgparks.com for information. Regular tour prices apply.
Free admission to Montpelier and thousands of other museums across the U.S. Take a self-guided tour of Montpelier, or a guided tour at 1 and 2:30 pm. Visit smithsonianmag.com/museumday for details and tickets.
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US Route 1: Baltimore to Washington D.C. History Talk Sponsored by the Friends of Montpelier
Saturday, October 12, 2 pm Do you know historic US Route 1 and its history? Join author Aaron Marcavitch as he shares his research and stories of this iconic American road. Connecting residential communities and commercial crossroads, Route 1 has spanned three centuries of transportation, communication, and development, touching all areas of the region between these two major cities. Aaron will be selling and signing books after the talk.
Holiday Teas
Beyond Needleart Exhibit
Saturday, September 21, 11 am – 3 pm
Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts—23rd Annual!
See Montpelier dressed up for the holidays on these self-guided tours. Local community groups deck the halls, and rooms. Regular tour prices apply.
Artists’ Boutique Monday, November 4 – Friday, December 27 (closed Wednesdays), 11 am – 4 pm Shop for original ornaments and quality crafts made by local artists. Perfect for unique holiday gifts.
Beyond Needleart Tea Saturday, November 9, 2 pm Tea includes a visit to the Needleart Exhibit. See April 7 for details.