Montpelier

The Montpelier estate was formed in 1723 when Ambrose Madison, President James Madison's grandfather, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Chew, were deeded 4,675 acres in the newly opened Piedmont of Virginia. To receive final title, he had three years to clear the land and build a house.

For more than 120 years – from 1723 until 1844 when Dolley Madison sold the property – the Madisons owned Montpelier. Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth president of the United States. It was here that he read, researched, and thought more deeply about our republican form of government than any other Founding Father.

Read more about the history of the Montpelier estate, the building phases, and how Montpelier came to be returned to the American people to be transformed once again into the home that James and Dolley Madison knew and loved.

Montpelier is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

• November – March: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (last tour starts at 4:00 p.m.)
• April – October: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last tour starts at 5:00 p.m.)

• Admission Fees

  Admission to Montpelier includes a guided tour of the Madison home; admission to the 2,650-acre gardens and grounds; any seasonal and themed tours offered that day; the Gilmore Cabin: A Freedman's Farm; the Civil War Trail; the Visitor Center and William duPont Gallery; Museum Shop; Landmark and Demonstration Forests; Madison Family Cemetery; Slave Cemetery; active archaeological digs and lab (including kids' hands-on archaeology); 1910 Train Depot and segregation exhibit; and the Annie duPont Formal Garden

  Admission also includes an audioguide that allows visitors to take a self-guided tour of the grounds.

  • Adults: $16.00
  • Children (under 6 years): No charge
  • Children (6-14 years): $8.00
  • Friends of Montpelier: No charge
  • National Trust Members: $8.00
  • Special Adult Tours: $14.00
  • Special Children's Tours: $8.00