FALL 2016
Constitution Day 2016
On September 17 , Montpelier celebrated Constitution Day with approximately 1,300 visitors in attendance . The day began with a “ We the People ” trail walk on the new 3.55-mile Montpelier Loop Trail . Free open house tours , hands-on history activities , and archaeological dig sites were available all day . At the David M . Rubenstein Visitor Center , the award-winning Barbeque Exchange provided a delicious buffet . Live music by acoustic groups Southern Styles , Genna Matthew , and Ben Eppard and beverages from Early Mountain Vineyards , Devil ’ s Backbone Brewing Company , and Albemarle Ciderworks rounded out the wonderful day .
New Montpelier Website
In September , Montpelier launched the new and improved montpelier . org ! Much like the property , the new , streamlined platform has something for everyone to enjoy . Visitors to the site can quickly and easily access all tours and book their tickets prior to arrival ; dive deeper into history and learn about the Madison family legacy , from the pivotal role James played in shaping modern government to the transformative figure that was his wife , Dolley ; and keep up with what each department at Montpelier is doing , connecting with the history and the people that made and continue to make Montpelier special .
Gilmore Cabin Workshops a Success
Over the past few months , Montpelier hosted a series of workshops at the Gilmore Cabin , that explored African American history and culture . The workshops gave participants an intimate experience with experts in the field of historic crafts and trades . Each workshop tied into the history of the Gilmore family and the skills and trades they would have known and used in their daily lives , from slavery to freedom .
Meet the Volunteer
Leslie Bouterie , Charlottesville , Virginia
“ I ’ m addicted to transferware ,” Montpelier volunteer Leslie Bouterie says . “ It absolutely feeds my soul .” She has been helping our archaeology team once a week since May of 2015 , but has been collecting transferware for over 30 years . Leslie believes ceramic sherds found at Montpelier serve as a window into the lives of the Madisons and the enslaved population , and has identified nearly 40 different patterns ! Outside Montpelier , Leslie serves as database researcher and editor for the Transferware Collector ’ s Club . Leslie has also participated in several Montpelier archaeology expeditions , including a ceramics workshop this past spring where she gave a transferware presentation . Of volunteering at Montpelier , Leslie says the people are what she loves most .
5