Download or read book Montpelier Transformed: A Monument to James Madison and its Enslaved Community written by William H. Lewis and published by Arcadia Publishing. This book was released on 2022-04 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: By the late 20th century, Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison, had been altered until it would no longer have been recognizable to the couple. In 2000 the newly-created Montpelier Foundation took over management of the historic home with the seemingly insurmountable task of restoring it to be a visual record of the Madisons' era. Within ten years, the Foundation overcame numerous hurdles, turning Montpelier into a monument to the Father of the Constitution. Over the next decade the site also became a monument to Montpelier's enslaved. The buildings in their community next to the Madisons' home were reconstructed, and award-winning exhibits dramatically illustrate the tragedy of slavery and essential role of enslaved people in Madison's life. Foundation co-founder William H. Lewis details the nonprofit's ambitious preservation projects and remarkable achievements.