Restoration event held at Montpelier

By Staff Reports

Published: September 17, 2008

STAFFORD — The official unveiling of James Madison’s Montpelier was planned for Wednesday of this week, on Constitution Day.
The unveiling of the $24 million, five-year restoration of Madison’s lifelong home featured Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Gov. Tim Kaine and Jim Lehrer of the PBS network.
Admission was free and included a living flag that 2,600 area school children created.
Madison was the Father of the Constitution, architect of the Bill of Rights and fourth president of the United States. 
The event in Orange lasted for one hour, with gates opening at 9 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m. to visitors.

Jim Lehrer of PBS served as the master of ceremonies, and was scheduled to be joined by Roberts, Kaine, Congressman Eric Cantor, National Trust for Historic Preservation President Richard Moe and Madison family and Montpelier slave descendents.
In addition, school children presented a living flag during the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Virginia Opera Company’s Eric Greene. 

Visitors can witness the home’s transformation through daily guided tours, and strolls through the garden, forests and many other attractions on the property’s 2,650 acres. Montpelier is located on Route 20, a few miles south of Orange.
For more information, visit montpelier.org.