MDC and Montpelier Upcoming Events
September is Constitution Month
September is Constitution Month at Montpelier! Please join the Montpelier staff and the MDC for a month of education, exploration, and reflection on the history of the U.S. Constitution, James Madison, and Montpelier.
Saturday, September 3rd
10AM-1PM East Woods Walk
Join Dr. Matthew Reeves, Montpelier’s Director of Archaeology & Landscape Restoration, on a tour of Montpelier’s remote section of woods to learn about the hidden plantation landscape under the tree canopy.
$25 per adult, $13 per child (6-12); 15-person maximum. $5 off for members.
10:30AM Constitution Tour
James Madison did more than any other single person to create, secure and perpetuate our revolutionary system of government. And it was here at Montpelier that he found inspiration and conceived many of his initial ideas. This one hour tour explores the origins of the Constitution at Montpelier and the legacy it leaves today.
$35 per adult, $15 per child (6-12), children 6 and under are free.
Thursday, September 8th
7PM-8PM Descendants Virtual Panel
This panel explores the history and legacy of the Montpelier enslaved community through the words of their descendants. These stories and traditions, passed down over generations, speak not only to communal history, but also to a national American story. Making connections between past and present, panelists explore how their ancestors helped shape the America we experience today.
Price: $10 for non-members, free to members, free to members of the Descendant Community, and free to students (with a code).
Contact kclackey@montpelier.org to register or request the student access code.
Saturday, September 10th
10:30AM Constitution Tour
James Madison did more than any other single person to create, secure and perpetuate our revolutionary system of government. And it was here at Montpelier that he found inspiration and conceived many of his initial ideas. This one hour tour explores the origins of the Constitution at Montpelier and the legacy it leaves today.
$35 per adult, $15 per child (6-12), children 6 and under are free.
Saturday, September 17th
10AM-3PM Visit with Mr. Madison
Visitors have an opportunity to engage with James Madison in all his genius and complexity. Mr. Madison will discuss a range of topics, from his life at Montpelier to the writing of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights.
For more information, see Montpelier.org.
10AM & 2PM Bill of Rights Tour
This outdoor walking tour explores James Madison’s critical role as “Architect” of the Bill of Rights. Over about an hour on the Montpelier landscape, participants will compare Madison’s proposals with selected Amendments as ratified, and consider a few landmark Supreme Court cases delineating the language of the Bill of Rights. A smartphone or device with the ability to access an internet link can be helpful to participants.
Price: $10
10:30AM & 1:30PM Constitution Tour
James Madison did more than any other single person to create, secure and perpetuate our revolutionary system of government. And it was here at Montpelier that he found inspiration and conceived many of his initial ideas. This one hour tour explores the origins of the Constitution at Montpelier and the legacy it leaves today.
$35 per adult, $15 per child (6-12), children 6 and under are free.
10:30AM Panel: A New Model of Community Governance at Montpelier
Structural parity, or equal power-sharing, is a community-based governance model. An example of the type of democracy James Madison himself proposed, parity offers exciting new opportunities for Montpelier and our visitors. Join the leadership of The Montpelier Foundation and the Montpelier Descendants Committee (MDC) to learn about what this new power-sharing relationship means for Montpelier’s future.
Price: free
Register for in-person or virtual attendance at Montpelier.org
1PM Panel: Is the Constitution in Danger?
America is experiencing a moment of political strife, one that threatens the core of our democracy. When James Madison established the framework for our founding document in 1787, only a fraction of the population could participate in this new and revolutionary form of government. America has not evolved effortlessly toward democracy. Join panelists in a discussion about the current political crisis, America’s vulnerability to democratic collapse, and how we can reinvigorate the American democratic spirit.
Price: $30 for in-person, $10 to join via Zoom
Register for in-person or virtual attendance at Montpelier.org
11AM-3PM Food Trucks
We will have several food trucks visiting. Come enjoy a selection of food and drinks at Montpelier!
Thursday, September 22nd
7PM-8PM Virtual Event: Striving for Freedom: How Black Americans Shaped our Democracy
Before James Madison conceptualized the US Constitution, people of African descent laid the foundation for American democracy. Over the centuries, Black Americans fought for and gained rights of citizenship, yet equality still remains elusive. Join Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries and Dr. Leslie Alexander in a conversation about how Black Americans have shaped American democracy from the writing of the Constitution through the Civil Rights Movement.
Attendance for this virtual event will be online only.
Price: $10 for non-members, free to members, free to members of the Descendant Community, and free to students (with a code).
Get more information about the panelists and register for the virtual event. Contact kclackey@montpelier.org to request the student access code.
Saturday, September 24th
10AM & 2PM Bill of Rights Tour
This outdoor walking tour explores James Madison’s critical role as “Architect” of the Bill of Rights. Over about an hour on the Montpelier landscape, participants will compare Madison’s proposals with selected Amendments as ratified, and consider a few landmark Supreme Court cases delineating the language of the Bill of Rights. A smartphone or device with the ability to access an internet link can be helpful to participants.
Price: $10
11AM Panel: Modeling Youth Civic Engagement in the Local Community
Join elected officials and youth ambassadors from the Orange community in a conversation about the importance of civic engagement. Panelists will address how to create change at the local level with a focus on youth participation. Discover how to engage in the democratic process in your own community.
Price: free
Thursday, September 29th
7PM Community Organizers Panel
More details for this event coming soon.
Price: $10 for non-members, free to members, free to members of the Descendant Community, and free to students (with a code).
Contact kclackey@montpelier.org to register or request the student access code.