September 17th – The lost holiday

September 17th does not have the same cachet as July 4th. In fact, most Americans probably recognize nothing special about this mid-September date. However, any Orange County resident driving through Main Street on this particular day could tell you that the 17th of September is a pivotal date in American history. The 17th is Constitution Day; the day that the founding document of the United States of America was signed by delegates at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. What makes Orange County residents so historically astute? Well, it’s difficult to plead ignorance about Constitution Day when you happen to live in the home town of the Father of the Constitution himself, James Madison. And it’s even more difficult to overlook the brilliant white banners suspended over the main thoroughfare in town, which announce that September 17th is Constitution Day and, even more exciting, that Madison’s home, Montpelier, is open to the public, free of charge, in honor of the occasion.

James Madison is Orange County’s most famous son, and Montpelier, the former president’s beloved home, is considered a local gem; it draws tourists from across the state and country. The appeal of the 18th century historic residence is evident from the moment that the red brick house, seated atop a lush green hill, becomes visible from the mile-long gravel drive leading to the front entrance. Forest green shutters framing each of the two-story home’s fourteen windowpanes and white washed, Ionic columns supporting the triangular roof of the veranda add elegance to the sturdy Madison home. The house presides over an expansive front lawn, which slopes away from the building and down to a white picket fence.

Though the most picturesque view of Montpelier can be had from the lengthy driveway leading to the home, the true tourist experience begins once you round the next bend in the road and reach the Visitor Center. The elegance of the historic home is mirrored in the red brick of the Center, which is given a modern air thanks to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows along the perimeter. Beauty and function are united in this building, where visitors can read about the history of Montpelier, and of the most famous Madison, on pillars imprinted with text or browse the shelves of local jams, copper jewelry, and patterned china in the gift shop. A small movie theater is tucked into the Visitor Center, and guests are encouraged to watch a 12 minute reel about Madison’s Montpelier before embarking upon a tour of the house itself. Breaking all stereotypes about educational films, the movie provides a succinct and engaging overview of the evolution of Montpelier, from a Madison family homestead to a modern archaeological treasure.

Armed with historical knowledge and a new curiosity about the Madison abode, visitors are ushered out of the Center’s theatre and sent along a gravel pathway leading to Montpelier itself. Regal oak and maple trees extend their long limbs over the pebbled pathway, which runs alongside a small wooden bench where visitors can pause to enjoy the scenic beauty of the estate. Situated in the heart of Virginia horse country, Montpelier boasts the type of picturesquely forested terrain that is ideal for the annual hunt races that are synonymous with the location today. The facade of Montpelier faces west, offering a gorgeous panorama of the hills blending to forest, and the woodland leading to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Despite the temptation to spend a lovely mid-September day roaming the grounds of the Madison estate, the grand house itself offers a singularly fascinating glimpse into the life and times of one of the nation’s most famous Founding Fathers. A tour of the east and west wings of the house, which Madison commissioned to be built during his first presidential term, from 1809-1812, includes access to the drawing room, considered the center of the family’s social life, the library, where Madison drafted his political recommendations in preparation for the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and the study, which is the room where Madison drew his last breath.

Montpelier has achieved national attention for a recent 5-year renovation of the building’s facade; by the completion of the project in 2008, the house had been restored to the architectural style of Madison’s era. Currently, historians are seeking to recover and replace the interior décor that graced the house in the 19th century. The educational value of the authentically restored Montpelier is largely unprecedented within the realm of historic homes; however, the experience of wandering the grounds is a delight beyond compare. Every corner of the estate exudes beauty and charm, and no visitor can leave Montpelier without taking a last, long glance at the presidential homestead, which appears in all its glory as you retrace your drive through the fields and forest of the grounds. History buffs will revel in the stories of the Madison era, but all visitors will find themselves enchanted by the glory, unchanged from past to present, of Montpelier.