Montpelier
Also known as: James Madison Home
Why it's listed
Montpelier is the Orange County, Virginia, estate where James Madison lived for 76 years. Madison was born in King George County in 1751 and moved to Orange County with his parents in 1760, where his father built the central portion of the house. Apart from his years of public service, including the Continental Congress, Secretary of State and the presidency from 1809 to 1817, he remained at Montpelier. In retirement he and his wife Dolly received a steady stream of visitors. Madison landscaped the grounds and enlarged the mansion with a large Doric portico, which Thomas Jefferson designed, and one-room wings on each side, along with outbuildings on a 4,500-acre estate. Madison died there in 1836, and Dolly Madison was later buried beside him. The nominated district covers about 1,767 acres. It was recognized for its association with Madison and his political career. The grounds and mansion were reported in excellent condition and carefully maintained.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant as the home of President James Madison for 76 years, including 19 years of retirement after his presidency. It also notes that Thomas Jefferson designed the portico for his friend Madison. The area of significance is checked as Political, and the period as the 18th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000843, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4 mi. W of Orange on VA 20, Orange |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000843 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Portico designed by Thomas Jefferson; central portion built by Madison's father |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 19, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Privately owned and occupied as a private residence, not open to visitors except the Madison family cemetery; condition marked excellent, with landscaped grounds and the mansion carefully maintained. |
| Acreage | 1100 |
| Coordinates | 38.21876, -78.17220 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000843.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2469085
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.