What do Texans, Iowans, and New Jerseyites share in common? Apparently, an appreciation for the majestic 18th century historic site that is Montpelier, home of James Madison, Fourth President of the United States of America and local son of Orange, VA. These visitors’ license plates are amongst the many interesting, out-of-state tags that can be found on the cars parked along the grassy banks of the gravel path leading to the Madison homestead. Though it is no longer the largest or most ornate house in the county, Montpelier, a relic of colonial and early post-independence American history, has retained an aura of mystique that draws locals and distant tourists alike.
Aside from the historic value of the Madison home, Montpelier has attracted national attention in recent years due to the elaborate $25 million renovation that is currently underway, designed to restore the house to its original appearance. The 2008 celebration of the completion of Phase 1 of this project drew notables from national and state politics, including Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito and Virginia governor Tim Kaine. Even without the lure of political stars and historic celebrations, Montpelier remains a point of national interest. Traveling in the footsteps of one of America’s founding fathers, not to mention those Texas, Iowa, and New Jersey natives who have found their way to the rural heartland of Virginia, promises to be a treat for the mind and spirit.
The Montpelier experience begins well before you catch a glimpse of the white columned majesty overlooking a lush oval lawn and undulating hills that stretch towards the mountains of the Blue Ridge. Neither local nor tourist can fail to be impressed by the beauty of the landscape of Route 15, the two-lane highway leading you to the gem of Montpelier. Central Virginia’s distinctive rolling hills entice the eye, offering breathtaking glimpses of the foreground to the Appalachian Mountain range, which forms the western vista of Orange County. A mix of thrilling curves and scenic straightaways along the highway amplifies the impressiveness of the farms sprinkled throughout the countryside, as unadulterated rural landscapes give way to log-fenced estates.
Montpelier’s current address is officially known as Montpelier Station, VA, and the location’s namesake, a small, pale yellow rail stop, is the closest neighbor to the historic home. When traveling from the town of Orange, drivers can catch a glimpse of the charming, white-roofed railway stop, a curiosity-piquing highlight along the route. Despite the pleasant distractions of the landscape, it is hard to miss the heavily wooded turn to the Montpelier estate, for multiple forest green signs are placed along the roadside, announcing the mileage to Montpelier and the direction to turn to find your way to the estate.
Just beyond the white wooden gates of the entryway lie two mini guard booths; the employees manning the booths are a critical resource for the Montpelier tourist. The last leg of the journey to the historic home is the most complex, though also the most picturesque. Follow the smooth asphalt of an unmarked road, which leads through the heavily forested estate of Montpelier, over a small creek, and past several pastures dotted with grazing horses, directly to the front lawn of the great house itself.
While the first glimpse of Montpelier, a lovely red-brick house with hunter green shutters and a grand portico ensconced within Ionic, white-washed columns, is extremely pleasing, the true appeal of the historic home lies within the walls of the estate. To gain access to the home, and to the historical knowledge within, follow the road beyond the next bend, from which the Visitors Center, a modern accompaniment to the Montpelier estate, comes into view. The information center for the estate is standard in function but exemplary in design and content, striking a critical balance between mirroring the style of Montpelier itself and adding a modern bent to avoid the appearance of artificiality. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide a visually appealing entryway to the center, which houses both an educational wing and a gift shop.
The effect of the sunlight mirrors the dual uses of the room, for it is both functional and playful. As visitors seek out a crash course in the life and times of the Madison family, an ad hoc lesson that can be attained by reading the text printed upon plaster columns that are arranged throughout the left side of the Visitors Center, sunlight illuminates the unique textual display. Across the linoleum floor of the Visitor Center lie pedestals on which numerous gift displays are arranged. The gift shop sells a wide assortment of mementos, ranging from china embossed with the official Madison toile pattern to unakite jewelry, made from the state gem of Virginia.
The sunlight filtering through this wing of the building illuminates glass ornaments featuring hand-painted images of Montpelier and jars of homemade local jams and jellies, catching the visitor’s eye and luring them to the cash register. Within a small theater in the interior of the Visitor’s Center, a twelve minute movie exploring the history of the Madison family and describing the contemporary renovations occurring at Montpelier plays continuously. More than just a savvy way to lure elementary school students into a historical discussion, the short film is a highly enjoyable entrée to the 18th and 19th century world that lies within the walls of Montpelier - and the visitor’s imagination.
After the film concludes with a series of snapshots of the modern Montpelier at its most triumphant, during the 2008 ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of the first phase of renovations, the spectators are ushered out the back entrance of the theater and instructed to follow a gravel path to the Madisons’ home. Having successfully navigated the roadways leading to Montpelier and the intellectual and commercial lures of the Visitors Center, the exciting conclusion to the hunt for history awaits.
On a quiet day, when the pebbled path to Montpelier is empty and the woods leading to the home reverberate with the sounds of nature rather than schoolchildren’s voices, the past and present seem to blend imperceptibly. In this fleeting state of timelessness, you can sense the peaceful aura that must have pervaded the Madison estate in 1765, when the President’s father, James Madison, Sr., moved his family into the newly completed home. Scaling the five concrete stairs leading to the veranda of the Madison home and turning to face the verdant lawn gently sloping into a vista of rolling hillsides is a thrilling part of the Montpelier experience.
When the central set of cream double doors is opened, a guide wearing muted shades of gray, offset by a red kerchief bearing the seal of Montpelier, welcomes you to the home of President James Madison. Though they break the aura of historical intimacy that is established between the traveler and his surroundings during the private walk through the forest, the guides offer more than adequate compensation: insight into the living quarters and the life of the fourth president of the United States, his charming wife, Dolley, and the extended Madison family.
To the immediate left of the glass rimmed entryway is the elegant Madison drawing room, which was, and continues to be, the focal point of Montpelier. During James and Dolley’s time, the drawing room served as the entertaining center of the house, where the homeowners and their guests would retire after dinner to enjoy a game of cards or to be regaled by the tunes of the piano forte that was housed in this spot. Today, the points of interest in the room are the replicas of paintings that would have graced the walls during Madison’s day.
To the right of the fireplace hangs a duplicate of the sole painting that remains intact from the Madison home, entitled “Pan, Youth, and Nymphs” and depicting the mythological characters in the title. Adjoining the pivotal drawing room is the sitting room of the matriarch of Montpelier, Mrs. Madison. The President’s mother lived to the age of 97; she died a mere seven years before her famous son. In addition to the main sitting room, Mother Madison resided over a private bedroom at the back of the house. Together, these first three rooms comprise the near entirety of the east wing of Montpelier, an addition that James Madison commissioned in 1812, during his first term as President.
While the first floor was used for entertaining the public, the second story of Montpelier was where much of Madison’s private work was conducted; the work that would be so influential in the formation of the United States Constitution. Three bedchambers dominate the upper floor, one of which includes access to a lovely terrace, from which the domestic slaves’ quarters and the estate’s two outdoor kitchens, one for Dolley and one for her mother-in-law, are visible. One of the bedrooms remains in an intentionally unfinished state, so as to display the interior structure of the house.
The focal point of the second story is undoubtedly Madison’s library, where the President spent the winter of 1786 preparing for the Constitutional Convention that would be held in Philadelphia the following summer. After studying the established political institutions and governing principles of the European nation-states, Madison formulated a prescription for national governance, which was later dubbed the Virginia Plan. This representational model became incorporated into the compromise that formed our bicameral national legislature, with representation in the House of Representatives apportioned according to state population and in the Senate distributed equally amongst the states.
Despite the pivotal role that Madison played in the formulation of the U.S. Constitution, including his proposal of a Bill of Rights, he rejected the title of “Father of the Constitution,” which has since become synonymous with his name. The ever modest Madison asserted that the Constitution arose from the collaboration of many statesmen – and should be recognized as such. Madison’s political career skyrocketed following the Constitutional Convention; after serving as a key advisor to President George Washington and as Secretary of State to Thomas Jefferson, Madison was elected president in 1808, then reelected in 1812.
The tour of Montpelier concludes where Madison’s life also did, in the President’s bedroom in the west wing of the house. On June 28, 1836, President Madison issued his last words to his niece, responding to her inquiries into his health by stating that he was experiencing “nothing more than a change in state of mind,” and immediately passed away. The eloquently moving words of a leader imbue the now sparse room with a power that penetrates not only the essence of the house but the soul of the visitor.
As you leave Montpelier and retrace your steps across the pebbled path, en route to the comforts of the Visitors Center for a snack in the Courtyard Café, a memento from the gift shop, or a last look at the history of the Madison homestead, savor the refurbished authenticity of the estate. The home has passed through a variety of hands, and undergone an equal number of alterations, in the intervening 173 years since President Madison’s death. After being sold by Dolley Madison in 1844, in an effort to pay off the Madison debt that remained even after the President’s memoirs were sold for $30,000, Montpelier’s transformation began.
At the turn of the 20th century, William and Annie DuPont purchased Montpelier, choosing to preserve the grounds but also to enlarge the house. In 1984, the heirs of the last direct DuPont descendent, Marion DuPont Scott, endowed Montpelier to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, returning the home to the public care. In 2000, the Montpelier Foundation assumed stewardship of the estate, and in 2003 a pivotal, and ongoing, restoration was begun. Though the architectural restoration of the house was completed in 2008, two phases of decorative refurbishment remain.
In the interim, Montpelier continues to draw visitors from the East Coast to the plains states, and its trustees continue to invite special guests for the annual September 17th celebration of Constitution Day, when our founding document was signed. This year, former wife of the Vice President and children’s book author Lynn Cheney graced the halls of Montpelier and read to 250 schoolchildren from the impressive porch of the great house. Next year…well, next year remains a mystery to be unveiled, along with the original coats of paint on the walls of Montpelier, the archaeological remains of the Dolley Madison kitchen, and the 17 missing mantelpieces of the Madison home. Mark your calendars now; the excitement of Montpelier lives on in the halls of the great house and the minds of the hundreds of annual visitors.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Somerset Steam & Gas Pasture Party: Unparalleled Venue, Undeniable Fun
The three John Deere tractors puttering down the highway are the first indication that you’re getting close. Just a quarter mile further down the two-lane country road and the gleaming, twin silver silos of the Somerset Farm come into view, marking the gateway to a field full of grandiose farm equipment representing nearly a century of technological development. White wooden letters suspended across the triangular, rooftop peak of an aging barn announce the sponsor of today’s pasture party: the “Somerset Steam and Gas Engine Association.” Appropriately enough, a trail of steam rises from a locomotive, detached from any accompanying train cars, which is being driven across the miniature hills and depressions of the pasture by a young man in a conductor’s cap. The steady chugging of the train envelops the field in an aura of antiquity, creating a surprisingly calming refuge.
As the sounds of mechanized equipment whirring to life are amalgamated into the unique musical score of a field party, the ear and eye are drawn in several directions at once. Walk straight through the entryway of a wrought iron, maroon gate that opens onto the main event and you’ll find yourself at an old-fashioned sawmill demonstration. Surprisingly agile, work-worn hands load 2” wide, raw wooden boards - piled three high – onto a conveyor belt that whisks the beams towards a circular saw, which spins at such a high velocity that the hooked edges of the rim disappear into a hazy gray ring of movement. As the saw hits its target - the dead-center of the boards - the beams are quickly, cleanly sliced in half. Though this 19th century sawmill model was once an impressive power tool, it has become a hydro-powered toy display for the dozens of assembled onlookers.
Seeking something a little edgier? Follow the crowd to the red clay demo strip where a lineup of tractors awaits. The farmers aboard these imposing, 7-foot machines rev their engines as they take to the track, slowly but surely coaxing the tractors back upon their rear wheels and causing the front axles of the machines to lift off the ground, still spinning rapidly and revealing the full force of the machinery. While admiring fans burst into applause at the feat, the official event judge offers a play-by-play assessment of the monster wheelie; contestants will be judged by the smoothness of the maneuver and the duration of the trick.
On a track of a different sort, miniature ponies parade around a circular ring, to the delight of the children who sit proudly upon the obedient animals. Pony rides are not the only place where beasts compete with machines for the attention of the crowds at the pasture party; several two-horse wagons moving rapidly through the crowds assembled throughout the expansive field of Somerset Farm are packed with children and parents enjoying a country hay ride. Aside from providing another form of entertainment for the wagon riders attending this annual celebration of old-fashioned mechanics, these beasts of burden are representative of the oldest form of engine known to man.
The motor and heavy equipment displays found throughout the field provide a timeline of more recent developments in the realm of modern machinery, all of which have long surpassed the original form of horsepower. The history of the modern engine begins with the kerosene Witte, a “headless” machine circa 1920, which was one of the first pieces of machinery to replace manpower as the force used to perform such farm chores as threshing wheat. Slightly more contemporary machines on display include a band organ from the 1930s, which churns out sweet windpipe tunes, and a 1950s-era, hand-powered “reel” motor, once used for mowing grass.
The Somerset Steam and Gas Pasture Party, where education and entertainment are seamlessly interwoven, offers a rare opportunity to directly connect with a unique piece of American history. After taking in the machine demonstrations, chatting with the friendly experts who are willing and eager to discuss their antique equipment, and enjoying a ride aboard the kiddie cars pulled by All Terrain Vehicles or the old-fashioned horse and buggies (depending on your age of course), pause a moment to savor the feast for the senses at the Somerset Farm. Indulge in the traditional fairground treats of hot dogs, hamburgers, and the local favorite – rib eye steak sandwiches. Or treat yourself to a homemade milkshake from the 4-H concession stand. No fresher, more decadent, treat can be found than these vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry shakes, made from milk culled straight from the surrounding central Virginia dairy farms. The pastoral scene of a quaint farmhouse, bordered by verdant fields and distant forests that stretch clear to the edge of the pale blue horizon on an early September afternoon, calms the mind, while the thrill of a down-home pasture party excites the senses. Come experience for yourself what the locals already know – life’s just a little more vibrant in Orange, VA.
As the sounds of mechanized equipment whirring to life are amalgamated into the unique musical score of a field party, the ear and eye are drawn in several directions at once. Walk straight through the entryway of a wrought iron, maroon gate that opens onto the main event and you’ll find yourself at an old-fashioned sawmill demonstration. Surprisingly agile, work-worn hands load 2” wide, raw wooden boards - piled three high – onto a conveyor belt that whisks the beams towards a circular saw, which spins at such a high velocity that the hooked edges of the rim disappear into a hazy gray ring of movement. As the saw hits its target - the dead-center of the boards - the beams are quickly, cleanly sliced in half. Though this 19th century sawmill model was once an impressive power tool, it has become a hydro-powered toy display for the dozens of assembled onlookers.
Seeking something a little edgier? Follow the crowd to the red clay demo strip where a lineup of tractors awaits. The farmers aboard these imposing, 7-foot machines rev their engines as they take to the track, slowly but surely coaxing the tractors back upon their rear wheels and causing the front axles of the machines to lift off the ground, still spinning rapidly and revealing the full force of the machinery. While admiring fans burst into applause at the feat, the official event judge offers a play-by-play assessment of the monster wheelie; contestants will be judged by the smoothness of the maneuver and the duration of the trick.
On a track of a different sort, miniature ponies parade around a circular ring, to the delight of the children who sit proudly upon the obedient animals. Pony rides are not the only place where beasts compete with machines for the attention of the crowds at the pasture party; several two-horse wagons moving rapidly through the crowds assembled throughout the expansive field of Somerset Farm are packed with children and parents enjoying a country hay ride. Aside from providing another form of entertainment for the wagon riders attending this annual celebration of old-fashioned mechanics, these beasts of burden are representative of the oldest form of engine known to man.
The motor and heavy equipment displays found throughout the field provide a timeline of more recent developments in the realm of modern machinery, all of which have long surpassed the original form of horsepower. The history of the modern engine begins with the kerosene Witte, a “headless” machine circa 1920, which was one of the first pieces of machinery to replace manpower as the force used to perform such farm chores as threshing wheat. Slightly more contemporary machines on display include a band organ from the 1930s, which churns out sweet windpipe tunes, and a 1950s-era, hand-powered “reel” motor, once used for mowing grass.
The Somerset Steam and Gas Pasture Party, where education and entertainment are seamlessly interwoven, offers a rare opportunity to directly connect with a unique piece of American history. After taking in the machine demonstrations, chatting with the friendly experts who are willing and eager to discuss their antique equipment, and enjoying a ride aboard the kiddie cars pulled by All Terrain Vehicles or the old-fashioned horse and buggies (depending on your age of course), pause a moment to savor the feast for the senses at the Somerset Farm. Indulge in the traditional fairground treats of hot dogs, hamburgers, and the local favorite – rib eye steak sandwiches. Or treat yourself to a homemade milkshake from the 4-H concession stand. No fresher, more decadent, treat can be found than these vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry shakes, made from milk culled straight from the surrounding central Virginia dairy farms. The pastoral scene of a quaint farmhouse, bordered by verdant fields and distant forests that stretch clear to the edge of the pale blue horizon on an early September afternoon, calms the mind, while the thrill of a down-home pasture party excites the senses. Come experience for yourself what the locals already know – life’s just a little more vibrant in Orange, VA.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Rodeo Fever at Oakland Heights Farm
8.00: For novices to the professional bull riding rodeo circuit, the fluorescent red numbers illuminated upon a billboard across from the grandstands are a mystery. For veteran cowboys and girls, though, the clock represents the ultimate countdown in the rodeo world. Eight seconds is the qualification time for bull riders who are competing in the explosive world of rodeo; eight seconds separates the courageous from the conquerors.
As the sun fades beyond the lush foliage of the trees lining the hills of Virginia’s piedmont region, a refreshing, late summer breeze wends its way amongst the hundreds of spectators gathered at Oakland Heights Farm, a horseback riding ranch that is host to tonight's Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association (SEBRA) competition. The excitement of the fans seems to rise on the back of the refreshing evening breeze, and the happy chatter of several generations of spectators – from wizened farmers sporting soft leather cowboy hats to ecstatic toddlers donning fringed jodhpurs and fresh white boots – grows to a pleasant hum. Every second Saturday, from May through September, the rodeo comes to town and Oakland Heights Farm is transformed from a tranquil horseman’s retreat to a lively country western festival.
Before the main event even begins, the crowd is treated to a full-spectrum sensory delight. As spectators absorb the beauty of the Lamb family farm, perched atop a small mount overlooking the estate’s rolling hillsides and the horse trails that disappear into the forested ascent of the Blue Ridge lowlands, they can savor the smell of down-home country cooking, which mingles with the earthiness of the pine and oak trees that ring the oval rodeo pen. Tender, slow-cooked pork barbeque is available for purchase from the white tented food stands located at the entrance to the venue. The sweet and savory aroma of the simmering, Southern specialty turns heads in the grandstand and tempts the palate of young and old alike. Not to be outdone by the temptations of the concession stands, a country music band has taken to a small stage, set up across the ring from the spectators. Playful guitar twangs and the crooning drawl of the band’s lead singer reverberate through the early evening air, as the toe-tapping harmonies bring a smile to the faces of the audience members.
Despite the thrill of the pre-festivities, the audience eagerly comes to attention when the master of ceremonies takes to the mike to announce the start of the evening’s main event. Riding is the name of the game at Oakland Heights Farm and tonight’s roster will feature three types: horse, sheep, and bull. Six adolescent girls seated atop six large ponies enter the ring to commence the evening’s show. Both horse and rider are festooned with pink paraphernalia: pink ribbons are braided into the trotting horses’ manes and tails to match the pink polo shirts and pink, pigtail pompoms of the riders. As Beach Boys anthems play in the background, the horses parade around the ring in choreographed fashion to form pinwheels and intersecting circles at increasing speeds. The crowd-pleasing routine is followed by a “mutton-busting” event, in which children, wearing protective helmets, lie upon the backs of mid-size lambs, holding on gamely while the animals prance around the ring. It is a competition of endurance, and whoever holds on longest takes home the $25 cash prize for the night.
Finally, the seminal event of the evening is announced: the bull-riding rodeo. A dozen competitors take a shot at fame as, one-by-one, the bulls they are straddling are loosed into the ring. The men determinedly use their legs to grip the sides of the bare-backed beasts and they hold fast with a single hand to a rope that serves as a makeshift bridle. Most of the riders last just 3, 4, 5 seconds atop the bucking bulls, before being thrown to the ground and scurrying agilely to the side of the ring and the safety of a metal fence that can easily be scaled by cowboy limbs. A few competitors reach, even surpass, the pivotal eight second mark and are rewarded by cheers from the enraptured crowd and by inclusion amongst the finalists for the competition. The judges give numerical marks, based upon the temperament of the bull and the form of the rider, to all those who meet the qualifying time. At the end of the rounds, a declaration is made: a young man from Lexington, KY is awarded the grand prize of $1,500 for his mastery of a speckled white bull with a particularly antagonistic temperament. Though the event is over, adrenaline continues to course through the audience members as they file out of the arena, comparing notes on the 1,000 pound stars of the rodeo and their brave riders. Everyone’s a satisfied customer after another unforgettable evening of good old-fashioned rodeo in historic Orange, VA.
As the sun fades beyond the lush foliage of the trees lining the hills of Virginia’s piedmont region, a refreshing, late summer breeze wends its way amongst the hundreds of spectators gathered at Oakland Heights Farm, a horseback riding ranch that is host to tonight's Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association (SEBRA) competition. The excitement of the fans seems to rise on the back of the refreshing evening breeze, and the happy chatter of several generations of spectators – from wizened farmers sporting soft leather cowboy hats to ecstatic toddlers donning fringed jodhpurs and fresh white boots – grows to a pleasant hum. Every second Saturday, from May through September, the rodeo comes to town and Oakland Heights Farm is transformed from a tranquil horseman’s retreat to a lively country western festival.
Before the main event even begins, the crowd is treated to a full-spectrum sensory delight. As spectators absorb the beauty of the Lamb family farm, perched atop a small mount overlooking the estate’s rolling hillsides and the horse trails that disappear into the forested ascent of the Blue Ridge lowlands, they can savor the smell of down-home country cooking, which mingles with the earthiness of the pine and oak trees that ring the oval rodeo pen. Tender, slow-cooked pork barbeque is available for purchase from the white tented food stands located at the entrance to the venue. The sweet and savory aroma of the simmering, Southern specialty turns heads in the grandstand and tempts the palate of young and old alike. Not to be outdone by the temptations of the concession stands, a country music band has taken to a small stage, set up across the ring from the spectators. Playful guitar twangs and the crooning drawl of the band’s lead singer reverberate through the early evening air, as the toe-tapping harmonies bring a smile to the faces of the audience members.
Despite the thrill of the pre-festivities, the audience eagerly comes to attention when the master of ceremonies takes to the mike to announce the start of the evening’s main event. Riding is the name of the game at Oakland Heights Farm and tonight’s roster will feature three types: horse, sheep, and bull. Six adolescent girls seated atop six large ponies enter the ring to commence the evening’s show. Both horse and rider are festooned with pink paraphernalia: pink ribbons are braided into the trotting horses’ manes and tails to match the pink polo shirts and pink, pigtail pompoms of the riders. As Beach Boys anthems play in the background, the horses parade around the ring in choreographed fashion to form pinwheels and intersecting circles at increasing speeds. The crowd-pleasing routine is followed by a “mutton-busting” event, in which children, wearing protective helmets, lie upon the backs of mid-size lambs, holding on gamely while the animals prance around the ring. It is a competition of endurance, and whoever holds on longest takes home the $25 cash prize for the night.
Finally, the seminal event of the evening is announced: the bull-riding rodeo. A dozen competitors take a shot at fame as, one-by-one, the bulls they are straddling are loosed into the ring. The men determinedly use their legs to grip the sides of the bare-backed beasts and they hold fast with a single hand to a rope that serves as a makeshift bridle. Most of the riders last just 3, 4, 5 seconds atop the bucking bulls, before being thrown to the ground and scurrying agilely to the side of the ring and the safety of a metal fence that can easily be scaled by cowboy limbs. A few competitors reach, even surpass, the pivotal eight second mark and are rewarded by cheers from the enraptured crowd and by inclusion amongst the finalists for the competition. The judges give numerical marks, based upon the temperament of the bull and the form of the rider, to all those who meet the qualifying time. At the end of the rounds, a declaration is made: a young man from Lexington, KY is awarded the grand prize of $1,500 for his mastery of a speckled white bull with a particularly antagonistic temperament. Though the event is over, adrenaline continues to course through the audience members as they file out of the arena, comparing notes on the 1,000 pound stars of the rodeo and their brave riders. Everyone’s a satisfied customer after another unforgettable evening of good old-fashioned rodeo in historic Orange, VA.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Welcome to Orange, Virginia: Revel in the Past and Create Your Own Present
Round a meandering bend on Route 20 and a picturesque town flanked by the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains comes into view. Brilliant orange paint on a white clapboard sign welcomes you to “Historic Orange, Virginia.” A rural county in the center of the state, Orange has a rich history that is only surpassed by the aesthetic beauty of the region’s horse farms, vineyards, and charming Main Street communities. The quaint county has retained a timeless aura reminiscent of a bygone era when communities were founded upon neighborhood models and personal graces were valued above commercial rewards. Southern charm emanates from the landscape itself: verdant hillsides dotted by grazing livestock appeal to the eye and soothe the traveler’s soul; luscious greenery of field and forest blends seamlessly and soulfully into the blue-gray glory of the Appalachian mountain range along the county’s westernmost border. Though Orange County lies just off the path of a series of interstate corridors leading to the urban Meccas of Washington, D.C. and Richmond, the region has retained a distinctly pastoral atmosphere. A commitment to retaining its rural heritage makes Orange an anomaly within the increasingly hectic corridor of urban sprawl that extends from the national and state capitals to the central Virginia heartland. This rustic quality in turn makes Orange an increasingly tempting retreat for the urbanites and suburbanites to the north and south.
A glance at the yearly calendar of events for Orange, Virginia offers an intriguing portrait of a low-key locality that is embracing its essence and attempting to share its unique heritage with the world. Past and present unite in this county, founded in 1734 and named in honor of Great Britain’s Prince William III of Orange. As a prominent stop along the “Constitution Route,” the honor bestowed upon Virginia’s Route 20, Orange holds a place of prominence due to the historical figures who were born, or made their home, in the region. James Madison is the most notable resident in the county’s history, and the former president’s Montpelier home remains a destination of interest to visitors from throughout the state and country. Having grown up on his family’s plantation in Orange, James Madison, “Father of the Constitution,” began his political career as an appointed member of the Orange County Commission of Safety. And upon the completion of his two terms as President, Madison, the fourth Commander-in-Chief of the United States, and his wife Dolley retired to his beloved Montpelier. Today, the Madisons’ former abode is the renowned home of the Montpelier Hunt Races, an annual steeplechase event that will celebrate its 75th anniversary this fall. The races, held the first Saturday of November, are a trademark of Piedmont Virginia’s horse country culture and have achieved national prominence as an official event on the National Steeplechase Association’s circuit.
Orange is a county that is proud of its history and actively engaged with the future of its tourism industry. Stay with us as we explore the myriad events that comprise the heart and soul thriving beneath the county’s pretty exterior. From bull riding rodeos to blues festivals, from street fairs to vineyard fare, Orange offers events to tempt every personality and palate. Come to Orange, Virginia and let yourself live.
A glance at the yearly calendar of events for Orange, Virginia offers an intriguing portrait of a low-key locality that is embracing its essence and attempting to share its unique heritage with the world. Past and present unite in this county, founded in 1734 and named in honor of Great Britain’s Prince William III of Orange. As a prominent stop along the “Constitution Route,” the honor bestowed upon Virginia’s Route 20, Orange holds a place of prominence due to the historical figures who were born, or made their home, in the region. James Madison is the most notable resident in the county’s history, and the former president’s Montpelier home remains a destination of interest to visitors from throughout the state and country. Having grown up on his family’s plantation in Orange, James Madison, “Father of the Constitution,” began his political career as an appointed member of the Orange County Commission of Safety. And upon the completion of his two terms as President, Madison, the fourth Commander-in-Chief of the United States, and his wife Dolley retired to his beloved Montpelier. Today, the Madisons’ former abode is the renowned home of the Montpelier Hunt Races, an annual steeplechase event that will celebrate its 75th anniversary this fall. The races, held the first Saturday of November, are a trademark of Piedmont Virginia’s horse country culture and have achieved national prominence as an official event on the National Steeplechase Association’s circuit.
Orange is a county that is proud of its history and actively engaged with the future of its tourism industry. Stay with us as we explore the myriad events that comprise the heart and soul thriving beneath the county’s pretty exterior. From bull riding rodeos to blues festivals, from street fairs to vineyard fare, Orange offers events to tempt every personality and palate. Come to Orange, Virginia and let yourself live.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)