MDC and Montpelier Upcoming Events

October 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.

Join Montpelier’s Horticulture department and the Virginia Master Naturalists on a walk through James Madison’s beloved woodlands and contemplate our connections to Madison’s era through our mutual dependence on this important natural resource. Learn about the ecological and economic contributions a well-managed forest provides to our society in terms of habitat, wildlife, wood products, and such basic needs as clean air and water. Investigate how various techniques of active forest management constitute stewardship of the woodlands, to renew and preserve them for future generations.

Space is limited! Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes; terrain may be rough in places.

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.

Come join us in utilizing archaeology to explore the concepts of Liberty and Legacy at one of America’s most significant historic sites: James Madison’s Montpelier. Search for clues from the past, excavating side by side with Montpelier’s archaeologists, as we conduct excavations in our efforts to memorialize and understand those who built Montpelier, and learn about the contributions of all those who called Montpelier home. Get behind-the-scenes specialty tours with Montpelier’s experts, and be among the first to conduct lab analysis at the Archaeology Department’s new lab facility Community Archaeology Lab at Montpelier (CALM).

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.

Late fall is the time of year when we extend a special welcome to recently retired and full-time retired participants to join us in experiencing archaeology. Since it is a cooler time of year, and the leaves have start to turn, it is often the most beautiful season to be on the scenic landscape in an excavation unit. During this program we offer mobility-assisted tours and logistics at the site.

During the 2026 Expedition season, the Montpelier archaeology department is investigating an 18th-century Blacksmith shop that was run by Moses, an enslaved blacksmith owned by James Madison, Sr.  Moses ran the blacksmith shop during the American Revolution and provided supplies for the Continental Army during the War. We are investigating this site to find evidence for the forge, to learn about the items produced, and to locate structures that were present at the site. Moses’s blacksmith shop was ultimately moved during the 1810s reconfiguration of the main house formal grounds. The site is now immediately adjacent to the iconic 1810s-era Temple located near the Montpelier main house.

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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.