Everyone had to be born somewhere so Rutland Vermont is the birthplace of the famous John Deere and…read morethere is a marker here to commemorate the spot. The marker reads, "John Deere was born February, 7th, 1804 the third son of William Rinold Deere and Sarah Yates Deere. It is presumed that Sarah gave birth to John at home; over William Deere's Rutland tailor shop located on the east side of Main St. across from the park. In 1805, the family moved to Middlebury, Vermont where at the age of 17, he learned the blacksmith trade as an apprentice. When hard times hit the region in the 1830s, Deere decided to leave his wife and family temporarily and venture west. In 1836 Deere moved to Grand Detour, Illinois where, in 1837 he built the world's first steel moldboard plow - "The Plow that Tamed The West"." The marker was erected in 2012 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. The sign is in near mint condition. There is parking nearby at a convenience store. [Review 18466 overall - 65 in Vermont - 1988 of 2022.]

I am so glad my daughter discovered this historic site. It was a great experience!…read more Yes, originally I thought to myself...why did I have to pay $8 per person to visit the site and walked the trail....Well, after the experience, I did not regret paying the $8. The visitor center was well kept. There was a 10 minute video, and so many items discovered from the war displayed neatly inside the museum. We took the green/Baldwin trail. On this beautiful cool breezy day, my daughter and I walked around and saw all the special locations marked along the trail. The trail was well kept. The views were stunning. Highly recommend!

Lived in Vermont most of my life and this place was always on my lists of places to visit: every…read morething is extremely well maintained and the actual visitors center was extremely clean: they do have one unisex bathroom with a changing table in the back stall area. We really enjoyed the extremely informative staff member we spoke with and gave excellent suggestions for hiking with little ones. The views from the top was extremely beautiful. The trail we hiked provided shade most of the way so even on an extremely hot morning we enjoyed our visit

As one of our (currently) 433 National Park sites, this one tells the story about why we have…read moreconservation and the story behind the families who have contributed to our conservation efforts. Located just on the edge of town, this park is huge and I would have loved to hike in the back country. Unfortunately we arrived late in the day and only had enough time for a mansion tour and to take a short hike on the 'Jr Ranger Loop'. The house itself is beautiful and I highly recommend stopping in for a tour. Loved chatting with the rangers here.

Last weekend, my wife and I were thrilled to discover that Vermont is home to its very own National…read morePark and it's located right here in Woodstock! As longtime supporters of National Parks, we couldn't wait to experience it for ourselves. Entry to the park is free, though ranger-led tours of the mansion run about $9 per adult. The park's history is absolutely fascinating. It preserves the boyhood home of George Perkins Marsh, a pioneering environmental thinker whose book Man and Nature laid the foundation for conservation in the U.S. Another interesting fact: the park includes the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the country, originally reforested by Frederick Billings as a model of sustainable forestry. We opted for a ranger-led mansion tour (worth every penny), which brought the estate's legacy of stewardship to life through beautifully preserved furnishings, art, and stories of the Marsh, Billings, and Rockefeller families. After the tour, our ranger highly recommended a scenic trail hike. It was an easy, peaceful walk that led us to a lovely lake loop - perfect for stretching our legs and soaking in nature. The trail meandered beneath shady trees and felt like a serene escape from the world. All in all, if you're curious about conservation history or just looking for a peaceful, enriching outing in woodland surroundings, this park is a gem. The blend of free admission, affordable ranger tours, compelling legacy, and gentle trails make it a memorable and meaningful stop in Woodstock.

I had seen the other sculpture on the interstate but I made it a point to stop at this one because…read moreI love how the tails are curved around. Makes for a great shot.

We stumbled on this beautiful landmark getting gas. I felt so lucky to see something so cool and…read morebeautiful out in a distance! If you're ever in Vermont Google directions to see this in person. I don't think anyone would be disappointed.

This small marker remembers a time in recent history that sounds really cool. It reads:…read more "Smuggler's Notch. The southern gateway to Mount Mansfield and Smugglers Notch is via Route 100, once a plank road, the bed for Mt. Mansfield Electric Rail Road, and one of the earliest concrete roads. From the village of Stowe, Route 108 meanders past the base of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak at 4393 feet, and climbs through Smugglers North, the reputed route for cattle smugglers and hiding place for Lake Champlain pirates. The BIG SPRING has been popular since the 19th century when its waters were claimed to have curative powers. The caves, which retain ice until July, the ski resort and the many trails attract hikers and travelers in all seasons. " - Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, 2005

Vermont's most peaceful spot: stunning grounds, drive into forest for more history. Friendly staff…read moreshared Joseph Smith's upbringing story. Ideal for history, quiet reflection, nature's beauty.

I'm not an LDS member and I don't know a whole lot about their Church, but I was passing through…read moreand decided that I'd like to see the largest polished granite shaft in the world. So here it is, a total of 50 feet tall with the stone obelisk itself at 38.5 feet (one for each year of Smith's life). It is a beautiful facility and the stone itself is impressive. The center is quiet and peaceful and a lovely tribute to the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is also a full visitors' center here and a meeting house. Admission to the center and tours of the memorial site are free.

The marker and a monument stand in front of the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace and Museum which was…read moreclosed when I was here, so here's the monument and marker. Prior to the crucial Lincoln-Douglas debates, Douglas had defeated Lincoln in the 1858 US Senate election in Illinois. Douglas became the leading proponent of popular sovereignty, which held that each territory should be allowed to decide whether to allow slavery within its borders, in order to deal with the contentious issue of extending slavery into the territories. He was one of the brokers of the "Compromise of 1850", which sought to avert a sectional crisis. Both pro- and anti-slavery activists rejected this approach to resolve the problem. Ultimately, Lincoln's strong support in the North led to his victory in the election. After the Battle of Fort Sumter, Douglas rallied support for the Union, but he died in June 1861 as the Civil War began. It reads, "The 'little giant' of national politics, born in Brandon in 1813, later moved to Middlebury to learn cabinet making. Returning to Brandon, he attended the Academy. Moving to Illinois in 1833, his career merged with the stream of American politics, reaching the height in his famous debates with Abraham Lincoln in 1858. Although Lincoln's opponent during the campaign, he supported the Union until his death in June, 1861." The marker was erected in 1957 by the Vermont Historic Sites Commission and it appears to have been updated recently as it is in excellent condition. Adjacent to the marker is a stone marker with a bas relief of Douglas and it reads, "Stephen A. Douglas. Teacher, Lawyer, Orator, Statesman. United States Senator from Illinois 1847 to 1861 Democratic candidate for President of the United States against Abraham Lincoln. Loyal supporter of Lincoln and the Union in the early days of the War of the Rebellion. Born at Brandon April 23 1813 in the cottage west of this site. Died in Chicago June 3 1861." [Review 18486 overall - 85 in Vermont - 2008 of 2022.]

A very impressive location with panoramic views of the countryside. It's a very befitting place.read more

The Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, located in Randolph Center, is a State run and operated…read morecemetery. This cemetery is an eternal resting place for veterans, their spouses, and some dependents. When you first drive into the cemetery, you are greeted with a beautiful monument area with the US Flag. The cemetery is broken up in sections and each section has a beautiful view of the scenery of Vermont. At the top of the hill is a beautiful view of the cemetery, picture included. Here you will find a chapel with a dedication sign (also included here), that can be used for services. Veterans interred at the cemetery receive perpetual care for their lot, including a marker and funeral honors free of charge. This is typical for most veteran cemeteries. However, at the VT Veterans Memorial Cemetery, spouses and dependents interred receive the same perpetual care and a marker for a small fee. Not common at other veteran cemeteries is the option to have your own stone. This cemetery allows for that option and also has a section for commercial purchased monuments and these purchases are made by the veteran or their family. Space is available for either casketed and cremated remains. Also located on the grounds is a beautiful memorial garden that provides a memorial stone for those veterans who are buried at sea or scattered. The cemetery provides simply a beautiful resting place with the beautiful scenery of Vermont in all directions. Certainly a recommendation of mine for any veteran.