"Madison's Hand" Lecture at the Library of Congress

Since I retired in February from the Library of Congress, I keep my eyes open for lectures and presentations there. After all, it is just two blocks from our house, gives us an opportunity to venture out, and usually I run in to some of my past coworkers. So yesterday we went to hear about Madison and his version of the events at the constitutional convention. It was fittingly held in the Madison building, and in the Montpelier Room on the sixth floor. From there, one has a wonderful view of the Capitol building and town below. Obviously work is being done on the deck and walkway around the top floor. This wonderful space was once actually open for employees to sit and relax. But no more! The speaker was the same speaker that was at another lecture in March. I found that one to be much more interesting than the technical views we heard yesterday. It's one thing to go to these presentations, but sometimes they can be rather boring. I would wager most of the attendees were employees - several were munching on their lunch. The best thing about it was that I could walk out of there after it was over rather than have to return to an office. What a great feeling! 

Montpelier - James Madison's Home

We had not taken a day trip for awhile, so decided it might be a good time to go back to Montpelier since it was renovated to it's original state. James Madison's home is located in between Culpeper and Monticello and is about a two hour drive from Washington DC. We visited there when we first moved to DC, but at the time the house was being renovated from the pink DuPont monstrosity back to the original state, so there was not much to see. Even though it was dreary outside today, the trip was fun because our dear friend came along with us. And that always makes it more entertaining. Along the way we saw a tree full of turkey vultures, and on the way back they were feasting on a deer carcass. After all, Montpelier is out in the sticks, surrounded by a retired thoroughbred horse farm established by the last owners, the DuPonts. But our journey was to learn more about the behind the scenes man who seemed to be out shined by his more verbose, vivacious, and likable wife Dolly. And, I work at the Library of Congress where there is a Montpelier Room, and is also home to the Madison papers. There is even a statue of him in Madison Hall in the Madison Building. You do come away with an even greater respect for the guy, but for some reason, he seems to be lost among the more prominent kinsmen of the time.  It makes you wonder how one moved about when all this important stuff was being discussed. And once you arrived you stayed for awhile. At least now it only takes two hours rather then three days. Some things have changed, but his thoughtful contributions to our American history have not.