James Madison’s Montpelier

On June 5, 2017, James Madison’s Montpelier opened The Mere Distinction of Colour, a groundbreaking exhibition on slavery. The culmination of nearly two decades of historical and archaeological research, this exhibition explores how the legacy of slavery impacts today’s conversations about race, identity, and human rights. Visitors will also see Montpelier’s connection to the national story of slavery – and discover the economic, ideological, and political factors that cemented it in the newly-created American nation and Constitution.