A stately plantation in picturesque Orange County, Virginia, Montpelier has been home to many owners, but the period in which the Madison family occupied it remains the most intriguing. Historian Matthew G. Hyland traces the development of the plantation as it evolved and changed through three generations of Madisons - from beginnings as temporary quarters on the tobacco frontier of Piedmont Virginia to the height of fame as the noteworthy abode of the fourth United States President, James Madison. The history of the house and its grounds offers a glimpse into the private dilemmas and public struggles that mark the development of democracy and reflect the creation of the United States as a nation. Newly renovated and restored to the era President Madison lived and entertained there, the home stands as a testament to its great proprietor's interests and tastes, and as a witness to American history.