Montpelier Transformed: A Monument to James Madison and Its Enslaved Community - Paperback

by Lewis (Author)

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.

Author Biography

William H. Lewis was a co-founder of the Montpelier Foundation and chair of the board of directors for its first eight years, serving for nineteen years on its governance committee. Nationally recognized as an expert on clean air regulation and litigation, he is a retired partner and, later, senior counsel, of an international law firm. He served as director of the National Commission on Air Quality, as well as executive officer of the California Air Resources Board. He was listed in Best Lawyers in America and Washington, DC Super Lawyers. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina with an AB degree and a JD with honors from its law school.