The Temple

Gardens of Montpelier

​​Based upon the tempietto of Bromante in San Pietro, Rome, Mr. Madison’s Temple was historically referred to as the “summer study.” This graceful, classical, structure is used to represent Montpelier. The Temple is a fitting symbol for Madison, encompassing his intelligence and love of the classics, his appreciation of natural beauty, and his understanding of the useful and practical ways of men. Temple is classic in form, and beautiful in its setting, beneath it lies an ice well—two stories deep—that provided the Madisons with cool drinks and ice cream all summer long, a luxury in the 1800s.

http://www.montpelier.org/research-and-collections/archaeology/archaeology-at-montpelier/washington-years/madisons-temple