Gov. Tim Kaine brought his Cabinet secretaries, state agency heads and staff members to James Madison's Montpelier in Orange County last night for a public reception in the Grand Salon of the duPont Gallery.

The early-evening event ended the governor's eighth Cabinet Community Day, a daylong trip for the group that included a bridge dedication in Palmyra, two community events in Charlottesville and a visit to a Christmas tree farm in Greene County.

Michael Quinn, president of the Montpelier Foundation, welcomed the governor's group with a brief overview of the history and restoration of the Montpelier mansion.

"What a wonderful thing to reclaim this property to its original design," said Kaine. "It's such a treat to be in this new facility."

"Remembering our history and learning the lessons of the past is part of keeping our commonwealth strong," he continued.

But, he added, it's not just about the past.

"If it were just about the past, I don't know if there would be such a need to renovate and reclaim Montpelier. It's about trying to create a usable past where we can learn the lessons of history and carry the lessons forward to improve our lives as individuals and also the lives of the community."

Kaine started the Cabinet Community Days in 2006 in order to visit four different communities a year to hear from constituents in their home regions. That first year's itinerary included visits to Hampton Roads, Abingdon, the Shenandoah Valley and Northern Virginia.

This year's trips have taken the governor and his entourage to southern Virginia, the Eastern Shore and Roanoke.

The final Community Cabinet Day of the year ended with yesterday's visit to the Charlottesville and Orange areas.

"We do these series of events to celebrate things in the localities," he continued. "Not all wisdom resides in Capitol Square."