LIFESTYLES |
TRAVEL MONTPELIER
MONTPELIER ROAD TRIP A visit to the Virginia home of the fourth U.S. president and the surrounding countryside BY ERICA MOODY
Montpelier exterior. Photo by Kenneth M. Wyner, courtesy of The Montpelier Foundation
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n this city of hustle and bustle, it’s important to give yourself moments to reflect, and where best to do that than in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains? Just 88 miles southwest of the District sits the home of James and Dolley Madison, the “Father of the Constitution” and the “First First Lady.” A scenic drive to the revitalized estate makes for a quick and relaxing escape to a place that only feels like the middle of nowhere; you can rest assured that home and its obligations are just a short drive away. MONTPELIER HISTORY Madison’s grandfather, Ambrose Madison first purchased the nearly 2,700-acre Montpelier property in 1723, and it was in the family until Madison died and Dolley sold the estate. The most known private owner is Marion duPont Scott who, when she died in 1983, bequeathed Montpelier to the National Trust for Historic Preservation with a $10 million endowment. Since then, extensive restoration, including a $25 million restoration completed in 2008, has been carried out to restore the property back to its 1820 appearance. The “Presidential Detective Story” exhibit currently on display lets visitors into the process of unearthing clues to find what the house looked like in President Madison’s day, and the Archeology Lab allows visitors to discuss this process with on-site experts.
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Master suite at the Inn at Willow Grove. Photo courtesy of The Inn at Willow Grove
RUBENSTEIN’S GIFT Caryle Group co-founder David Rubenstein, often referred to as “The Patriotic Philanthropist” for his donations to Mount Vernon, Monticello and now Montpelier, recently gifted the Montpelier Foundation with $10 million dollars. This generous gift, announced at the Montpelier Hunt Races last November, is helping in two areas—to accelerate restoration of the mansion, and to complete reconstruction of the South Yard enslaved community quarters. Thanks to Rubenstein’s gift, the mansion will soon be completely restored to reflect its original state at the time the Madisons lived there. WHAT TO DO In addition to Montpelier, nearby towns offer delicious food, quaint mom-and-pop shops, more history and all the scenery you can soak in. The National Postal Museum’s restored train depot in Orange is now a civil rights museum and the Civil War Museum at the Exchange Hotel in nearby Gordonsville is Virginia’s only standing Civil War receiving hospital. While in Gordonsville, grab lunch at local favorite Barbeque Exchange (now also served in Montpelier’s café) for authentic Southern food, and stroll main street’s art galleries, antique shops and boutiques. Also, every April, the Dolley Madison Garden Club hosts a tour of the Spotswood Trail for Historic Garden Week.
WHEN TO VISIT Since Montpelier will be open seven days a week beginning April 6, any day is a good time to visit, but look into the frequent special events that are open to the public, such as the South Yard Groundbreaking Ceremony on April 18, the popular Montpelier Spring Wine Festival May 23 and the festive Constitution Day Celebration and Freedom Wine Festival on Sept. 19. WHERE TO STAY Check in early to the Inn at Willow Grove and there’s a chance you’ll want to stay there all day. The boutique hotel offers luxury accommodations in a historic 18th century plantation house on a private 40-acre estate, and its four-star Vintage Restaurant and Pub features delicious regional American farmto-table cuisine. With a romantic ambiance to the restaurant and accommodations, it’s not a surprise that the Inn is a prime spot for weddings and engagements. Enjoy a bottle from the restaurant’s carefully selected, awardwinning wine list on the front or back porch of your private cottage, and take in stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Trust us, you won’t want to return to reality after a weekend in Orange County, but not to worry—you can always return next weekend. Visit innatwillowgrove.com.
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