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Preservation Lecture: Restoration Montpelier
February 23, 2016 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Restoration Montpelier: A Preservation Dilemma
Dr. Matthew G. Hyland
History Department, Duquesne University
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
6:00p.m.—7:30p.m.
Landmarks Preservation Resource Center
744 Rebecca Avenue, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221
“Montpelier” was the lifelong home of James Madison, Father of the Constitution, fourth President of the United States, and genius of the American Republic.
Since the time, National Trust for Historic Preservation, acquired Montpelier, the plantation home of President James Madison in Orange County, Virginia, in the early 1980s, stewards of the historic property have faced complex preservation and interpretation challenges. Modern intrusions in the architectural fabric of the house and grounds resulted in a sharp conflict between the historic Madison narrative and the twentieth-century DuPont imprint.
Join us to hear about the preservation history of Montpelier that provides an intricate case study for today’s preservation practitioners. This presentation lays out the evolution of Montpelier from a slave plantation, a country retreat and horse farm for a branch of the DuPont family, to a presidential shrine.
About the presenter: Dr. Matthew Hyland is an assistant professor of History at Duquesne University. His areas of specialization include historic preservation studies, public history, and American architecture. At Duquesne, he teaches courses in all of these fields and enjoys the public outreach he and his students do through service learning.
This workshop is free to PHLF Members. Click here for more information about PHLF membership and please join!
Non-members: $5
RSVPs are appreciated. Contact Mary Lu Denny at 412-471-5808 ext. 527