Montpelier's $24M Restoration Unveiled
Montpelier, the former Virginia estate of founding father James Madison, celebrated the completion of a $24 million restoration today aimed at returning the home to how it looked during the former president's lifetime.Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine spoke at the event, which capped a five-year effort by historians and archeologists with the Montpelier Foundation, who aimed to piece together not only the home's former structure, but the daily lives of plantation residents.
"Madison is responsible for designing our system of government that we live under today, the separation of powers and the three branches of government," said Peggy Vaughn, spokesperson for the Montpelier Foundation. "We were pleased to have Gov. Kaine represent the executive branch, Eric Cantor represent the legislative branch and Chief Justice Roberts represent the judicial branch."
The plantation was once a sprawling 5,000 acres, and was home to as many as 100 slaves, but several different owners -- most notably the duPonts -- and structural additions following Madison's death in 1836 altered Montpelier significantly.
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"Madison is responsible for designing our system of government that we live under today, the separation of powers and the three branches of government," said Peggy Vaughn, spokesperson for the Montpelier Foundation. "We were pleased to have Gov. Kaine represent the executive branch, Eric Cantor represent the legislative branch and Chief Justice Roberts represent the judicial branch."
The plantation was once a sprawling 5,000 acres, and was home to as many as 100 slaves, but several different owners -- most notably the duPonts -- and structural additions following Madison's death in 1836 altered Montpelier significantly.