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JAMES MADISON’S MONTPELIER                 540-672-2728 x 450
Fax:540-672-0411                                   www.montpelier.org                                                           
11407 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA  22957

DIRECTIONS:  Located on rte. 20, four miles Southwest of Orange about 28 miles North of Charlottesville and 80 miles South of Washington, D. C.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:  Montpelier was the lifelong home of James Madison.  Montpelier today is an estate of 2700 acres, with the historic home of James and Dolley Madison, gardens, a 200 acre old-growth forest, active archeology sites and breathtaking vistas.

It has become a monument to James Madison, a museum of American history, and a center for constitutional education that engages the public with the enduring legacy of Madison's most powerful idea: government by the people.

PARKING:  3 designated accessible parking spaces, located 500 ft from mansion.  Accessible parking space 12 ft. wide.  Nearby ramps well marked.  RV parking.  Passenger drop-off area near entrance.

TYPES OF PATHS TO OR AROUND ATTRACTION:  Crushed and pressed stone.  Length of paths 500 ft.  In addition, the first leg of the trail into the old-growth forest is wheelchair accessible. All paths in visitor areas are wheelchair accessible.

Spending time at Montpelier does involve a fair amount of standing and walking, including a 2/3-mile round-trip walk with an incline from the Visitor Center to the Mansion.  Although all paths in the visitor areas are wheelchair accessible, there may be uneven surfaces and steep grades that some might find difficult. Visitors with limited mobility are advised to build extra time into their schedule. If you need assistance with mobility, it's a good idea to bring your own wheelchair. Allow at least 2–3 hours to tour the mansion and grounds.

ENTRANCE:  In front of mansion.  11 exterior steps, each 7 in. high.  Ramp access via back porch.  2 entry doors, 44 in. wide, easily open in with knob handle located 33 in. above floor.  Ground level entrance to Mansion that leads to elevator.  This wheelchair accessible elevator provides service to main floor.

PUBLIC REST ROOMS:  On ground floor of mansion.   Doors 34 in. wide, open out.  Turns to enter.  Wheelchair accessible stalls have 34 in. wide doors opening out, and handrails.  19 in. toilet seat.  Sink height 34 in.  Accessible stall checked regularly for obstructions.  Unisex or companion assisted rest rooms available.  Rest rooms are identified by a raised figure with pants or skirt on door to designate men or women.

SPECIAL SERVICES:
For guests with hearing disabilities, printed house tour scripts are also available.  Orientation video is closed captioned.

For guests with visual disabilities, you can experience their tour with the added touch of objects and more in-depth visual descriptions.

For guests with mobility disabilities, the first floor and cellar of the mansion are wheelchair accessible; a handheld dvd experience is available for those who cannot climb to the second story.

Three standard wheelchairs are available at the Visitor Center at no extra charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Also, three motorized scooters are available at the Visitor Center for a fee of $10 each. The motorized scooters have a 250-lb. capacity. 

Borrowed manual wheelchairs and personal wheelchairs of any kind are allowed in the mansion. Rented motorized scooters are not allowed inside the mansion.  

Service animals are permitted throughout the property. Leashed dogs that are not service animals are welcome on the grounds, but are not permitted indoors. Pet owners are asked to curb their dogs.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE FACILITIES:  Exchanage Cafe inside the Visitors Center open 10-5 daily.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  Business hours: 9-5 and tour schedules vary seasonally.  Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  Admission fee The grounds are open and free every day (except Christmas and Thanksgiving Day). There are over 9 miles of trails on the Montpelier property.

Types of tours

Signature Tour Mon-Sun, 10 -3,, every half hour 1 hour and includes a tour of the mansion to learn about Madison the man, The Constitution & Bill of Rights, Slavery - Madison’s worst regret - and Dolley Madison, America's first First Lady.

Montpelier’s Enslaved Community: included in admission to Montpelier. Sat and Sun 1 pm. On this outdoor walking tour, visit the sites where multiple generations of Montpelier’s enslaved community lived, loved, and labored, and learn about the varied experiences of those individuals who endured a lifetime of denied humanity.

Madison & The Constitution Sat and Sun - 10:30 AM 1 hour and includes a tour of the mansion. Gain a deeper understanding of one of our country’s most influential documents, and the man who inspired its creation.

For history lovers there is the Behind the Scenes Tour on Fri and Sat at 9:30 AM. Reservations are required for the 90–minute tour that focuses on the in–depth details of the Madisons' lives showing the their style, taste, friendships, and accomplishments. The tour is engaging and ends up on the south terrace of the mansion with unforgettable views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Link to free iPhone app on Montpelier detailing the mansion and grounds.

Link to free Android app on Montpelier detailing the mansion and grounds.

 

 

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