Collections

A Montpelier curator packing items in preparation for Montpelier's restoration.

Montpelier has two permanent collections — those items owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and those that have come to the site since The Montpelier Foundation took over the management of the property in 2000. We also maintain a study collection of items that can be handled and used for educational purposes.

Items owned by James and Dolley Madison have been dispersed widely. First by the sale of the Montpelier estate by Dolley in 1844, and eventually by Payne Todd's creditors and family auctions. Fortunately, various Madison-associated items have been saved and cherished, and are now privately owned, or are in other museum and historical societies' collections.

The Montpelier curators are now charged with locating, researching, and "bringing home" Madison items.

What Is New?

Throughout the restoration process of the Montpelier mansion, visitors can view Madison furniture and decorative arts in a variety of exhibits. A number of the artifacts in our exhibits are on loan to Montpelier and, as a result, will change over time. Read more...

Madison Exhibits

You can see rare Madison and Madison-era objects featured in two locations: the Joe and Marge Grills Gallery in the Visitor Center, where you will begin your tour, and at the Education Center just beyond the mansion lawn. Read more...

duPont Exhibits

You can experience how the other historic Montpelier family, William and Annie duPont, lived on the property in the 20th century at our William duPont Gallery, which adjoins the Visitor Center. Read more...

What Is a Curator?

A curator is, in simple terms, ''the keeper of the collections.'' Curators and their staff research important places, events, and objects, or collections of objects that are important to a specific time, place, or person. Curators also care for objects, develop exhibits to interpret them, and keep them safe from natural and man-made disasters.

The Curatorial Department handles inquiries relating to furniture and decorative arts. Please contact the curator regarding any Madison-associated objects by using our contact form, selecting "Curatorial" for the contact department. If you have questions regarding the Madison family, the enslaved community at Montpelier, the history of the property, or the duPonts, please use the same form and select "Education" for the contact department. Also see our policy on research inquiries.