Visit to Charlottesville

I recently took a trip to Charlottesville, VA and I want to cover three topic. First, a visit to Montpelier, home of James Madison (and a little about him). Second, a visit to Ash Lawn- Highland, home of James Monroe (and a little bit about him). Third, some observations about our country's founding fathers, where they hailed from and their philosophies of founding a nation.

First Montpelier. It is absolutely stunning! The house is being restored back to its 1820 grandeur. The grounds are beautiful. The Visitor Center is less than two years old and very well put together. The tour of the house was very personal (we went in Jan and there was only one other family on the tour...no guarantees in the summer). They had one of the rooms "cut away" so that you can see how it is made and how it is restored - very interesting. The house used to belong to the DuPont's. When the last DuPont resident died, they turned it back into the historic sight it is today. They did major demo and restoration to get it into the shape it is currently in, with lots of work ahead. The Visitor Center and tour kept touting Madison as the "Father of the Constitution". Although his involvement with the constitution is well documented, it may be difficult to call him the "Father". Additionally, they glossed over some of the lesser parts of his Presidency - like the War of 1812 when he was duped by the French into fighting and almost lost the Union. There is a significant amount of information and relics associated with Dolley as well. Quite a woman for then and today. Overall, well worth the visit!

Second, Ash Lawn-Highland. Not nearly as stunning as Montpelier, but equally as interesting. Madison inherited his land and house from several generations back. Monroe bought Ash Lawn and built his own house (without going bankrupt like his neighbor Jefferson). There is no Visitor Center to speak of and tour is a Machine Gun of facts about Monroe, his wife and life. The house has some originals, but many items are "era" pieces designed to give you the right impression. The day we were visiting "Col Monroe" himself was there to greet us. He did a great job discussing various parts of his life and was very knowledgeable. More impressive, he did a great job of relating thinks from his time to today's situation in the US without breaking character - even the kids were impressed. They also had a presentation on Civil Rights 1776-Present. It was an ok overview that again the kids seemed to appreciate. Finally, there was an interesting demonstration in the kitchen cooking over an open fireplace. Although the visit was interesting, there was as sense of "see this an then move on" - you couldn't just stand and check things out. Once again, I am impressed by President Monroe. An orphan and self made man. He truly fought in the Revolutionary War taking a Hessian ball in the shoulder during the Battle of Trenton and eventually becoming President. Throughout the years we should have more closely followed the Monroe Doctrine and it may have kept us out of trouble. Again well worth the visit.

My third thought of the post. I was in Iraq this summer and did not get to watch the John Adams series then. I got it for my birthday and am on Episode 5 of 7. I did read the book while I was deployed. I find it somewhat interesting that John Adams who was raised on the Puritan work ethic was very concerned about the esoteric portion of establishing a new Nation (what to call the President, should we have political parties, etc.). The Virginia Founding Fathers were mostly "Liberal in thought" and true land owning gentry, but were more concerned about making th new Nation work (Treaty with England, central bank, etc.). Of course I am generalizing on both sides, but is seem interesting that there roles are reversed of what they seemed that they should have been. I suppose it takes all sort which is what our History has taught us. All just some observations right or wrong.