An historical landmark, Montpelier became the stately home of the fourth U.S. president, James Madison. The house was built by his father in the 1760s.
Christmas decorations for Madison's wife, Dolley (who made ice cream popular), and James Madison would have been simple, and today, the elegant mansion reflects this tradition, using greens, cedar, boxwood and ivy. In other parts of the home, however, there's over-the-top decorations that reflect another owner.
In 1902, the DuPont family, who were horse-racing enthusiasts, moved into Montpelier and turned the once 22-room home into a 55-room country palace and celebrated the holidays in grand style, similar to the manner of the Rockefellers or Vanderbilts.
Resources Monteplier
Monteplier
11407 Constitution Highway
Montpelier Station, VA 22957
USA
Phone: 540-672-2728
Fax: 540-672-0411
Email:
education@montpelier.org
URL:
www.montpelier.org
Christmas Castles video
HGTV Store.
Guests Beth Taylor
Museum Educator, Montpelier
11407 Constitution Highway
Montpelier Station, VA 22957
Phone: 540-672-7365
Fax: 540-672-7366
Email:
btaylor@montpelier.org
URL:
www.montpelier.org
Lee Langston-Harrison
Curator / Director of Education, Monteplier
11407 Constitution Highway
Montpelier Station, VA 22957
Phone: 540-672-0007
Fax: 540-672-2334
Email:
llangston@monteplier.org
URL:
www.montpelier.org
