To present the legacy of James Madison as Father of the U.S. Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights, and fourth President of the United States, The Montpelier Foundation was established in 1999, and during the last decade, it has restored Montpelier, Madison’s lifelong home, to its appearance during James and Dolley Madison’s time and has transformed the property into a national treasure. Visitation is rapidly increasing and is anticipated to exceed 100,000 annual visitors by the end of 2009.
In addition to the restoration and interpretative programs conducted at Montpelier, the Foundation has established the Center for the Constitution at James Madison’s Montpelier to teach the Constitution to teachers who instill its values in our children; to justices who strive to extend its meaning in the modern world; to legislators who embody citizen rule; to journalists who inform every American about our policies and government; and to law enforcement officials who are important guardians of our constitutional rights.
Since its founding the nonpartisan Center for the Constitution has become one of the nation’s leading sources of high-quality constitutional education. The Center conducts educational seminars that explore fundamental or basic principles of constitutionalism in America, such as liberty, popular sovereignty, inalienable rights, fundamental law, and good government. Drawing on primary source materials, such as the U. S. Constitution and The Federalist, participants of the Center’s programs engage in conversation and discussion to develop a broader understanding of United States’ founding principles.
To date, more than 2,000 people have come to Montpelier for overnight seminars to explore both the home and the mind of James Madison. In a true demonstration of the power of place, being at Montpelier gives their studies profound meaning. Participants are welcomed to the Constitutional Village at Montpelier for collegial and wide-ranging discussion of the most important concepts that define our country and how they extend into modern society and the civic fabric of America. The Constitutional Village, home of the Center’s academic and residential facilities, is located a short distance from the Madison home and is currently comprised of renovated early 20th-century farmhouses. The main academic building is located in Lewis Hall, a renovated carriage house.
Private contributions are essential for the Center’s programs and provide scholarships to the majority of its participants, ensuring that America’s teachers, police officers, and elected officials are offered opportunities to enrich and deepen their understanding and commitment to the Constitution.
For more information, contact the CACF Office or Kimberly Skelly, Vice President for Development, at 540.672.2728 ext. 114 or kskelly@montpelier.org.