Montpelier
PAID
Permit #1083 Riverdale, MD
PRESORTED First Class U.S. Postage
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
S I T E
~ 2020: The Year of the Woman! ~
MONTPELIER was owned by four generations of Snowdens until 1890. Two firebacks in the house, inscribed “TSA 1783,” indicate the first occupants, Thomas and Ann, and the year the central block of the house was likely completed. Since the 1970’s, visitors to Montpelier have heard about the wealthy Snowden men who owned the house. However, research done for exhibitions has shed light on the 169 people held in bondage by the Snowdens. This information has been incorpo-
background, will finally be brought forward in 2020, the Year of the Woman, and beyond. Who were
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they? Were they active participants in the running of the plantation? How did they navigate their religious and moral compass while living within the slave economy? Indeed, the Snowden women and the enslaved workers of Montpelier have been credited for
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 12/19
INFORMATION: 301-377-7817 TTY 301-699-2544
which attracted such visitors as GIFT SHOP HOURS: 10 am–4 pm (closed Wednesday) Visit our online shop!
RENTALS: The mansion is available for small gatherings, luncheons and meetings.
the family’s well-known hospitality,
SCOUT AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS: Call 301-377-7817 or visit history.pgparks.com for information.
TOURS: A modest admission fee is charged. Partially accessible. Self-Guided Tours: Year-round, Thurs–Tue, 9 am– 3 pm. NEW! Extended hours, 4th Thursdays, Mar.– Oct., open until 8:30 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.
9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Maryland 20708
Montpelier Historic Site
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as new information is discovered. Similarly, the women of Montpelier, whose stories have been in the
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s U w o l l o F
istory parksh
rated into the self-guided tour, which will continue to be updated
George and Martha Washington and
S
ee Inside
n he Woma Year of t Events (YOW) counts s i D y r a t i Mil s Program Evening
Volunteer!
Abigail Adams. Seventy acres, the Georgian manor,
From giving tours to office work to gardening, to
and a summerhouse remain, and large
being a tea hostess or assisting with hands-on-history
trees and boxwood grace the landscape,
programs, there are many ways to help. Please e-mail
which once was a property of approxi-
montpeliermansion@pgparks.com for more information.
mately 9,000 acres, and contained the Patuxent Ironworks and a plantation
THE FRIENDS OF MONTPELIER,
for tobacco and other crops.
a volunteer organization,
Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of
works with M-NCPPC
Montpelier, who advocated to restore
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2020
staff to preserve the site’s
Montpelier in the 1980s, visitors have
history. For more
explored this house for decades.
information, call 301-377-7817.
history.pgparks.com Facebook/PGParksHistory
Explore Montpelier’s Historic Landscape Granite statue adorns outdoor seating area behind Carriage House.
Teas! Tea to the English, tea is really a picnic indoors. – A l i c e W a l k e r
Explore the garden and tell time by the sun.
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: $31 + tax per person; $27 + 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, March 21, 11 am & 2 pm Festival Tea Saturday, April 25 – Timed seatings (Call for information) Montpelier Arts Center
See the Summer House
Queen Bee Tea Saturday, May 9, 11 am & 2 pm Tea with the Dearly Departed Saturday, October 24, 4 pm (new time) 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
Year of the Woman Tea–YOW Event Saturday, November 14, 2 pm Holiday Teas Friday, December 11, 2 pm Saturday, December 12, 11 am & 2 pm Sunday, December 13, 11 am & 2 pm
M ontpelier 2020 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 25
Blast-in-the-Past, the hands-on history playground July 9 – August 1
Dearly Departed Tea October 24
Artists’ Boutique November 2– December 22
BACKGROUND, RASPBERRIES, 2020 HERB OF THE YEAR. CREDIT: EPINE_ART, ISTOCK
BLACK HISTORY MONTH Re-examining History: A Work in Progress February 1 –29 (closed Wednesdays), 11 am–3 pm Montpelier’s new, more inclusive self-guided tour tells the history of all inhabitants of this 18th century plantation. The only thing missing is your insights, thoughts and ideas. Take the tour and let us know what you think! All ages; FREE
Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote —YOW Event! Sunday, March 1 – Monday, August 31 (Closed Wednesdays), 11 am – 3 pm
Chocolate Lovers’ Tea Saturday, March 21, 11 am & 2 pm For details, see tea schedule on back.
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live Saturday, April 4, 11 am–3 pm Free admission to Montpelier and thousands of other museums across the U.S. Drop-in for a self-guided tour. For details and tickets, visit smithsonianmag.com/museumday. All ages; FREE
This new pop-up exhibition from the National Archives commemorates the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The exhibit explores the history of the Amendment, women’s voting rights before and after, and its impact today. Despite decades of marches, petitions, and public debate on the 19th constitutional Amendment—while an enormous milestone— did not grant voting rights for all. The challenges of its passage reverberate to the ongoing fight for gender equity. FREE
To complement the Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote popup exhibit, this miniseminar will feature presentations covering history of the American Women’s Suffrage crusade, the use of objects during the Movement, the research and collecting of memorabilia, and the concerns of preserving such artifacts. Guest speakers will be Corinne Porter, Kenneth Florey, and Montpelier’s collections manager Joseph Sherren. Corinne Porter is curator of Rightfully Hers and several special exhibits and permanent installations for the National Archives. She is also the assistant to the Archivist of the United States. Kenneth Florey is an academic and author in this field, having assembled one of the most comprehensive suffrage memorabilia collections in the United States. Adults; $25/Residents and Friends of Montpelier, $30/Non-Residents. Lunch included in the ticket price. RSVP
Chesapeake Woodturners Exhibit Thursday, March 19 – Sunday, April 26, 1 1 – 4 pm (Closed Wednesdays) Opening Reception: Sunday, March 29, 1 – 4 pm Once again the rooms of Montpelier will be filled with exquisite wood pieces, hand turned by members of the Chesapeake Woodturners. Wood-turning demos will be given on Saturdays in April, 11 am–4 pm, weather permitting. Please call to verify. FREE
Sunday, May 3, 4 pm (also offered Sundays, September 6, and October 4)
Sunday, September 6, 4 pm Sunday, October 4, 4 pm
See April 5 for details.
See April 5 for details.
Queen Bee Tea Saturday, May 9, 11 am & 2 pm For details, see tea schedule on back.
Year of the Woman Tea YOW Event!
Blue Star Museums
Saturday, November 14, 2 pm
Tuesday, May 26 – Sunday, September 6 (closed Wednesdays), 11 am –3 pm
Hidden Spaces Tour for Teens—Evening Program!
For details, see tea schedule on back.
Tea with the Dearly Departed Evening Program! Saturday, October 24, 4 pm (new time!) For details, see tea schedule on back.
Saturday, June 6, 7 pm
Sunday, April 5, 4 pm (also offered Sundays, May 3, September 6 & October 4, 4 pm, and a special tour for teens on June 6, 7 pm)
Saturday March 14, 11 am – 3 pm
Hidden Spaces Tour Military Discount!
Montpelier, along with many other museums around the country, offers drop-in tours to active military and their families. All ages; FREE
Hidden Spaces Tour Military Discount!
To Collect and Preserve YOW Event!
Hidden Spaces Tour Military Discount!
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 original construction and changes in Montpelier’s 237-year history. Tour includes narrow winding staircases and optional stepladders. Older clothes and comfortable shoes recommended. Limited space. Ages 16 & up; $15/person; $10/Friends of Montpelier and active military. RSVP
Secret staircases, trap doors, creaky attics and cavernous basements….all the places visitors can’t go, but YOU can (just this once). Guided behindthe-scenes tour of this 237-year-old house, led by someone who knows all its secrets, because he used to live here! Parent or guardian must sign waiver. Ages 10–17; FREE. RSVP, space is limited.
History Talk: Interpreting Historic LGBTQ+ People at NPS Sites—Evening Program! Thursday, June 18, 7:30 pm Join Dr. Christopher Mielke as he uncovers tales of local sites related to the history of queer people. You will hear Maryland stories of revolutionary war generals, African American schoolteachers, masquerading quack doctors, and enlisted Naval personnel. The history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people will all be tied together by looking at different ways their stories are memorialized—or not—in National Park Service spaces. The goal is to show how queer people existed long before the Stonewall riots and how NPS is telling their stories. Adults; FREE
Looking Up: A Venture into the Night Sky Evening Program! Saturday, October 24 (rain date: Sunday, October 25), 8 pm Join a Park Ranger and the Goddard Astronomical Club for a night of stargazing. Learn about the planets, constellations and their notable stars, and distant galaxies. Equipment supplied by the Goddard Astronomical Club. To receive notification of cancellation due to weather, please call Park Rangers at 301-627-7755. Drop-in, no registration necessary. All ages; FREE
Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts, 24th Annual! Saturday, April 25, 10 am – 4 pm (Rain or shine) Delight in the sights, sounds, fragrances and flavors of this annual celebration of spring. With over 30 vendors of herbs, plants, handmade arts and crafts, live music, tea served in the historic house, handson history and art activities for kids, food vendors, tours of the historic house and art installations at the Arts Center, there really IS something for everyone! The Friends of Montpelier will be selling flowers and potted plants for their annual fundraiser. All ages; FREE admission (Fee for teas. Call for information.)
Thursdays – Saturdays, July 9–August 1, 10 am –3 pm (Weather dependent; please call to verify in case of rain or extreme heat.) Montpelier’s grounds become a kid-sized colonial village! Come for an hour or stay for the day. Drop in, no reservations necessary. Kids, win a free pass by joining PGMLS’s “Summer @ Your Library” program! Saturdays are All-County Days— ALL visitors pay the resident fee! Special offer! Take a tour of Montpelier and visit Blast-in-the-Past, and get a 15% discount at the Museum Gift Shop. All ages. Resident/$2.50; Non-Resident/$3
Tuesday, December 8 – Saturday, January 2, 11 am – 4 pm See Montpelier adorned in all the holiday trimmings. Local community groups deck the halls and rooms. All ages; Regular tour prices apply
Holiday Teas Friday, December 11, 2 pm Saturday, December 12, 11 am & 2 pm Sunday, December 13, 11 am and 2 pm See schedule on back for details.
Beyond Needleart Exhibit Monday, November 2–Saturday, November 28 (Closed Wednesdays), 11 am–4 pm Opening Reception: Saturday, November 7, 5:30–7:30 pm Now in its fifth year, Beyond Needleart displays all kinds of fiber art—including quilts, apparel and felting—by skilled local artists. FREE with regular admission.
Holiday Open House Evening Program! Saturday, December 19, 4 – 8 pm
Artists’ Boutique Blast-in-the-Past, 9th Annual!
Garlands and Greens
Monday, November 2–Tuesday, December 22 (Closed Wednesdays), 11 am–4 pm Featuring original, locally made jewelry, clothing, accessories and ornaments. Find unique holiday gifts.
Textiles Show-and-Tell and Preservation Tips: The Women of Montpelier—YOW Event! Saturday, November 7, 2 pm Get a glimpse of the women of Montpelier’s past through their textiles —such as gowns, quilts, and samplers—now in our collection. Learn some tips for caring for your own delicate antique textiles. Adults; Resident/$10; Non-Resident/$15; RSVP
Drop-in for a FREE tour of Montpelier while it’s decorated for the holidays, enjoy light refreshments, and hear live music by Bedlam, playing18th and 19th century songs on traditional instruments. No reservations necessary. All ages; FREE
elier p t n o M ht g i l i w at T RS ED HOU D N E T X E sdays, 4th Thur ctober March – O 0 pm! 8:3 Open ’til