History, Natural History & the Arts
As the unofficial start of summer – Memorial Day weekend – approaches, so does the opening day for most of Vermont’s Historic Sites.
Most of the state-owned historic sites – President Calvin Coolidge, Mount Independence, Justin Morrill Homestead, Hubbardton Battlefield, Eureka Schoolhouse, Old Constitution House, and Chimney Point State Historic Sites – open for the 2010 season on Saturday, May 29. [Read more…] about Vermont’s State Historic Sites Prepare For Opening Weekend
Months of planning and work in the boat shop at Lake Champlain Maritime Museum go public on Thursday May 20th with the launch of newly built 32’ rowing gig Harvest Moon. Seven students and three staff members from the Diversified Occupations Program at The Hannaford Career Center in Middlebury worked full time for five months this winter with museum staff and volunteers to build this magnificent boat. Harvest Moon will join LCMM’s fleet of ten other student-built rowing gigs serving over 500 youth in team rowing activities throughout the year. [Read more…] about Champlain Maritime Launches New Boat, Season
As opening day for most of Vermont’s State Historic Sites approaches, the state is looking to boost attendance by using the most modern method: Putting them on Facebook.
The Vermont State Historic Sites fan page was launched last month, and officials hope that the interactive social networking site will help promote the state’s 11 historic sites to a broader audience.
The Facebook fan page includes links to all of the sites; a calendar of events; and picture and video galleries for each site, as well as places for visitors and fans to post their own pictures and videos. [Read more…] about Vermont Historic Sites Now On Facebook
As the state prepares to update its plan for preserving Vermont’s unique historic character, officials are hoping to hear from Vermonters about their vision for the historic resources in their communities.
The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation is in the process of revising Vermont’s State Historic Preservation Plan and is holding public meetings in Burlington tonight, and in Rutland on May 25. [Read more…] about VT Seeks Public Input On Historic Preservation Plan
The Ethan Allen Homestead Historic Site and Museum has created “Ethan & the Boys @ Fort Crown Point” which uses smartphones to tell the tale of the Green Mountain Boys and their capture of the New York Forts Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The cannon “liberated” at those forts were delivered to George Washington in Boston to end the British siege. [Read more…] about New Smartphone Experience For Lake Champlain History
The Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell, Vermont has been recognized as a 2010 Editors’ Choice in Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England.
This designation is awarded by Yankee’s editors and contributors, who name select restaurants, lodgings, and attractions in New England to the list. Recipients range from the rustic to the refined, but all are noteworthy and memorable destinations. [Read more…] about Mount Independence Named Best History Hike
Denise Watso, a descendant of the legendary Abenaki Chief Louis Watso who lived in Lake George Village for a time and figures prominently in Native American life there in the 19th century, has come out in opposition to Vermont state recognition several Abenaki bands and tribes. In March a recognition bill [pdf] made it out of the Vermont Senate’s Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs. [Read more…] about Prominent Abenaki Opposes VT Tribe Recognitions
Vermont’s tallest building is opening for business again, as the Bennington Battle Monument begins its season on Saturday, April 17. Built to commemorate the August 16th, 1777 Battle of Bennington – which actually took place in nearby Walloomsac, New York – this Vermont State Historic Site opened to the public in 1891, some four years after construction began in 1887, at a cost of $112,000.
The monument, a 306-foot stone obelisk, was constructed on the site of a Continental military storehouse that was the objective of the British attack. With his army short of ammunition, food and arms, British General John Burgoyne decided to attack the town of Bennington and capture the storehouse and its supplies, sending about 800 men into battle against what he thought was a militia force about half that size. [Read more…] about Bennington Battle Monument Opens for 2010
The unique one-ski sit-down sled at left is an antique “jack jumper” from the 19th century. It looks like a stool bolted to a single ski – is one of two antique sliding toys recently donated to Vermont’s President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site by a local woman. [Read more…] about 19th Cent. Sliding Toys Donated to Coolidge House
The State of Vermont has officially filed a proposed revised rule for protecting archeological and historical sites during development, beginning the formal process of review.
Under Vermont’s Act 250, the state’s environmental protection and development review law, the Division for Historic Preservation makes recommendations to the district environmental commissions on whether a proposed development would impact “historic sites,” including archeological sites. [Read more…] about Vermont Files Proposed Archeology Rule Change