They had their Constitution Day celebration, and a couple of friends and I made the day trip and it was just delightful. We couldn't have asked for better weather and we only hit a little traffic on the way home, which is a miracle on 95.
We arrived just as the mansion opened, and as part of the day's programming, we each received a "passport" to visit different stations and collect stamps. At the end, you exchanged it for a pocket copy of the Constitution which I absolutely loved. We chatted with the tour guides, admired Madison's well-loved library, and visited an active archaeological dig happening on the property. We had lunch there at the cafe (admittedly, the meal left a lot to be desired) and did some damage at the museum store as I am prone to do.
Right near the estate was a Freedman's cabin that we stopped at, and the Montpelier train station (no longer oeprating) that is preserved to show the segregated waiting rooms. It also served as a post & telegraph office; USPS is still housed in the other half of the building. I found both very interesting and was glad that we stumbled on them.
When I was growing up, my mom always said, "We live in a great place," and it kept coming to mind throughout the trip. Glad to checked this one off my Virginia bucket list.
Next on the list: James Monroe's Highland outside Charlottesville and Oatlands Historic House in Leesburg.
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