• SLIDESHOW: Montpelier, home of James Madison
• 10 places you need to see in Virginia

MONTPELIER STATION -- It seems strange to portray a 250-year-old mansion, the centerpiece of a 2,650-acre plantation, as a hidden gem, but in some ways Montpelier perfectly fits the description.

The home of James Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution and fourth president of the United States, was privately owned for more than a century and out of the public spotlight. Now, a major restoration of the home is allowing Americans the opportunity to rediscover Madison and Montpelier.

"We're finding out something new every day," said Peggy Vaughan, director of communications for The Montpelier Foundation, of the physical and scholarly work in the house and on the grounds.

In a state where the homes of Washington (Mount Vernon) and Jefferson (Monticello) are longtime tourist attractions, Montpelier is the new kid on the block. It's one of the last of the founding fathers' homes to be restored, which is why Vaughan likes to say, "We're the newest old president's house."

Madison himself is something of a hidden gem.

"I think because his house was privately owned for so long, Madison has not been as well known," said Elizabeth Loring, assistant director of communications, during an interview in the formal garden behind Montpelier. "He also was a very modest person in real life. He was not a fiery speaker, but he was a great speechwriter and wrote for other people. He didn't have a real commanding physical presence, and he didn't toot his own horn.

"He was somebody that really embodies the concept you can get a lot done if you don't care who gets credit for it."

The $24 million, four-year restoration has left Montpelier noticeably smaller. Wings added by the duPont family, longtime owners, were removed, and the number of rooms has been reduced from 55 to 22, as it was in Madison's later years. Also gone is the pinkish exterior stucco; the original -- and, some might say, more dignified -- bare brick is back. One thing hasn't changed: the exquisite view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the stately front porch.

Inside, old plaster has been removed, revealing wooden laths from Madison's day. New plaster is going up, although the ladders and scaffolding are expected to be part of the scenery for a while. The architectural restoration is scheduled to be completed by fall 2008.

Out on the grounds, archaeologists and college students dig gently with tiny trowels and sift the dirt for pieces of history. Among other things, they've discovered artifacts such as glass, brick and ceramics, as well as the location of fence posts from when James and Dolley Madison lived here.

Through it all, tourists remain welcome. In fact, if you ever wanted to see the bare bones of a presidential home, this might be your best chance.

It's not all a construction site, though. A new $8.8 million visitors center opened in March. It features a theater, gallery and refreshments. It also is the new home for the "Red Room" -- the actual 1930s art deco room that was said to be Marion duPont Scott's favorite -- that was reinstalled in the visitors center after being disassembled piece-by-piece from a now-razed portion of Montpelier. Scott bequeathed the property to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in the 1980s, hoping Montpelier would be restored to the way it was.

Her wish is coming true.
Contact Bill Lohmann at (804) 649-6639 or wlohmann@timesdispatch.com.