Montpelier - Orange VA - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

In the early 1760s, Madison, Sr. built a new house half a mile away, which structure forms the heart of the main house at Montpelier today. Built around 1764, it has two stories of brick laid in a Flemish bond pattern, and a low, hipped roof with chimney stacks at both ends. His son James Madison later stated that he remembered helping move furniture to the new home. The building of Montpelier represents Phase 1 (1764–1797) of the construction. Upon completion, the Madisons owned one of the largest brick dwellings in Orange County.

Phase 2 (1797–1800) of construction began in 1797, after the son James Madison returned to Montpelier with his new wife Dolley Madison. He was then 39 and she was a young widow with a child. At this time Madison added a thirty-foot extension and a Tuscan portico to the house. Next, he directed construction of single-story flat-roofed extensions at either end of the house; these provided space for the separate household of the newlyweds James and Dolley Madison. Madison's widowed mother, Nelly, still resided in the house following the death of her husband, James, Sr., in 1801.

In the last period of construction, Phase 3 (1809–1812), Madison had a large drawing room added, as well as one-story wings at each end of the house. After his second term as president, in 1817 Madison retired there full-time with his wife Dolley.

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Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1764 Additional Dates of Construction: 1797-1800 1809-1812 Architectural Period/Style: Georgian Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Plantation Mansion Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: National Historic Landmark James Madison home, 4th President of US Main Material of Construction: Briack Private/Public Access: Public Admission Fee (if applicable): 20.00 (listed in local currency) Opening Hours (if applicable): From: 9:00 AM To: 4:00 PM Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Architect (if known): Not listed Landscape Designer (if known): Not listed Listed Building Status (if applicable): Not listed

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