MDC and Montpelier Upcoming Events

November 2026

There’s always something to see and learn about at Montpelier. To find out more about upcoming events, visit https://www.montpelier.org/event-calendar.

Please continue to check the MDC Events Calendar frequently as events are continually being added and updated.

Long considered a taboo subject, slavery is a paradox of America: a slave-holding nation that declared to the world that “all men are created equal.” 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.

The goal in this particular program is to give participants the opportunity to learn and experience how archaeologists use metal detectors in the discovery and analysis of archaeological sites, an archaeological tool long established and utilized at Montpelier.

Participants will learn how metal detectors can be used for the systematic discovery of archaeological sites and also to define the patterns found within sites.

Participants will learn how to plot sites on the landscape and how to analyze patterns discovered through metal detector surveys.

Participants will be familiarized with the large range of artifact groups we study at sites, most obviously including the myriad iron objects (most especially clipped iron, nails, and iron tools!) recovered during metal detector survey, but also those artifact types that archaeologists place additional significance to site interpretation (e.g. sherds of ceramics).

Long considered a taboo subject, slavery is a paradox of America: a slave-holding nation that declared to the world that “all men are created equal.” 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.

Long considered a taboo subject, slavery is a paradox of America: a slave-holding nation that declared to the world that “all men are created equal.” 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.

Long considered a taboo subject, slavery is a paradox of America: a slave-holding nation that declared to the world that “all men are created equal.” 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.