Vermont boasts eighteen National Historic Landmarks that tell stories from its rich past, from residences of writers and one president, battlefields of the Revolutionary War, farms where important agricultural works were produced, to battlefields from World War I.
These landmarks offer insight into Vermont’s longstanding values, whether that’s exploring Ethan Allen at Montpelier’s Old Constitution House or hiking through historic trails at Mount Independence.
Calvin Coolidge Homestead
President Calvin Coolidge’s birthplace and boyhood home remain much as they did on August 3, 1923 when the 30th president took his presidential oath there in the family parlor. Additionally, this historic district contains 1840 Union Christian Church, Florence Cilley general store, single-room schoolhouses run by Florence Cilley herself, Plymouth Cheese Factory and Aldrich House – among many others.
Today a formal parlor once used exclusively for special events still contains the black walnut and horsehair detailed furniture purchased by Colonel Coolidge’s father in 1876; it includes original rug and lace curtains from Vermont. Coolidge loved his Vermont roots and demonstrated them throughout his presidency with honesty, thrift, and taciturnity as core values.
Robert Frost Farm
Just minutes away from the Coolidge homestead is Robert Frost’s farmhouse, where he and his family resided with an interpretive trail and fragile log cabin where many of his masterpieces were written. This popular Vermont historical site includes interpretive trails as well.
Frost moved into this house built in the 1800s in 1920. He used its barn and separate wooden cabin as writing spaces while keeping friends at his white clapboard farmhouse home.
Visitors to this property can relax while exploring its quiet walking trails and romantic covered bridge, known as “the Kissing Bridge.”
Mount Independence
In 1776, American soldiers built a fort on an isolated hill overlooking Lake Champlain that they named Mount Independence after the Declaration of Independence, in response to British attacks from Canada across Lake Champlain. Mount Independence played an integral part in protecting both Bennington and Saratoga from invasion, ultimately contributing to their victories.
Visitors today can explore six miles of trails outlined by archaeological remains from the fortress, passing hut sites and building foundations from hospitals, blockhouses, great battery, horseshoe-shaped battery and star fort.
Volunteer archaeologists and volunteers traverse the mountainous terrain annually using modern tools like LIDAR mapping and GPS drones, discovering new points of interest along the way.
Emma Willard House
Visits to Emma Willard House are truly memorable experiences; this landmark was home to one of the pioneers of expanding educational opportunities for women.
Emma Hart Willard grew up on a farm where education was highly valued by both herself and her family. At a time when few women could read or write, Emma became literate at an age when few others could. Encouraged by her father to pursue an unconventional education path, Emma eventually received an advanced university education beyond traditional boundaries.
She began teaching at an academy in Westfield, Massachusetts before moving to Middlebury Vermont where she opened a girls’ school with help from her husband’s nephew. Lobbying legislatures, impressing presidents, and traveling the globe promoting girls’ education were just part of her laudatory resume.
George Perkins Marsh Boyhood Home
Built by one of America’s earliest environmental leaders in 1805 and expanded several times over its life, this Queen Anne-style house now forms part of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is an exquisite testament to Vermont history.
Montpelier is home to this historic site – once home of American diplomat and philanthropist George Perkins Marsh and Vermont’s first National Historic Landmark.
This covered bridge near Vermont Country Store is known as “Kissing Bridge”, as couples love strolling across it for romantic moments. Built in 1880 and designated a National Historic Landmark.
Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms is a National Historic Landmark district and an architectural masterpiece, showcasing the talents of landscape architect Robert Henderson Robertson and architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Visitors can admire their workmanship by exploring fanciful Breeding Barn, visiting 13-chimney manor house and more on 1,400 acres of unspoiled land.
Shelburne Farms’ commitment to sustainability can be seen through its meticulously maintained woodlands that earned green certification. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing conservation ethics and creating a thriving future through education, guests can explore scenic grounds, working farms and walking trails, stay at an inn on-site, stay at its farm store or buy its world-famous cheddar cheese from its farm store.
