Though geographically small, Vermont packs a punch; it’s full of unique attractions, cozy lodging options, and quaint restaurants. It’s got history, too, and here are a few of the historical attractions found in the southern part of the state:
The Robert Frost Stone House Museum
The 7-acre literary landmark is located in Shaftsbury, just minutes away from Frost’s gravesite in Old Bennington. The renowned poet lived in the 18th-century-built Dutch Colonial home from 1920 through 1929, where he farmed and planted an apple orchard (some of those original apple trees still stand) and, most important, wrote “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and some of his best-known poetry at the dining room table. Visitors can enjoy a stroll and a picnic on the grounds.
The Norman Rockwell Museum at the Sugar Shack
When travelers stop at the Sugar Shack in Arlington for a sweet treat, they can tour an exhibition that focuses on the works of Norman Rockwell—famous for his depictions of American culture—from the years he lived in Arlington (1939–53). The exhibit includes more than 200 art prints and stories from some of the more than 200 local citizens who modeled for his paintings (and participants can meet one). There’s also a 16-minute video in a theater room covering Rockwell’s years in Arlington.
Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home
Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert, built this Georgian Revival mansion in 1905 in Manchester, and it housed Lincoln family descendants until 1975. On the 412-acre estate, groups can tour 14 historical buildings, a 1903 Pullman train car, and a solar-powered goat dairy and cheese-making farm. The formal gardens, designed to resemble a stained glass window, feature more than 1,000 peony blossoms in the spring. Visitors can also see the vegetable, butterfly, and kitchen gardens and add on a catered lunch or Q&A with Hildene’s horticulturist.
For more information, contact Emily Rivers with the Vermont Tourism Network or go to vermonttourismnetwork.com.
Top photo: Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home
Photo by CC Flickr/Shiran Pasternak: bit.ly/2FaF6ga
