The historical marker stands on the same median grass as the Middlebury Civil War memorial and…read morepoints out an interesting history of Vermont and the north. The marker reads on both sides, "From 1796 to 1814 Court Square was the site of the first Addison County Courthouse, which also served as the seat of the Vermont Legislature (1800, 1806), and home of Middlebury's first female academy (1800). Here in June 1804 a New York slaveholder brought suit before a session of the Supreme Court to reclaim an escaped slave apprehended in Vermont. When his proffered bill of sale was deemed insufficient proof of ownership, his attorney demanded what the court would accept. Justice Theophilus Harrington of Clarendon responded with some of the most famous words from a Vermont courtroom, "Nothing short of a bill of sale signed by God Almighty Himself." The former slave went free." The marker was erected in 2019 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. [Review 18490 overall - 89 in Vermont - 2012 of 2022.]

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.]

I love my library! It is an adorable old building which was donated and renovated into the present…read morelibrary. The staff are great. The kids section is great too. They have regular programs for the kids ie. movies and popcorn. You can borrow free passes to museums, programs, etc. Last summer I borrowed a pass to the Maritime Museum in Vergennes for the pirate festival.

Town Hall Theater and The Opera Company of Middlebury offer residents of gorgeous central Vermont…read moreBroadway- and Metropolitan Opera-quality art, music and drama in a setting to die for! Who needs New York when we can partake of such treasures here?!

Add this lovely library to your next visit to Ticonderoga. The pictures and diorama and books…read moreeasily make it a top resource on the area's rich history. The librarians were lovely and my children were well pleased to play for an hour while we took in the historic plaque, Black Watch dedicates photos and Carnegie bequeathment history. Lovely spot!!

One of the larger and more impressive Civil War Monuments, this one simply says "Middlebury, To Her…read moreSoldiers." The monument depicts a soldier in Civil War uniform grasping a flag and standing atop a multi-layered granite pedestal. Figures depicting an artilleryman, a cavalryman, a marine, and an infantryman stand at the four corners of the pedestal's central section. The granite is from the Barre VT quarry and it stands 32 feet tall. [Review 18489 overall - 88 in Vermont - 2011 of 2022.]

This is a gem in Vermont. A part of American history that must never be lost. Thank you to the…read morevolunteers and curators of this special place. Call ahead to make sure you can go on the tour of the house. Amazing artifacts, letters, stories about the 4 generations of the Robinson family. Wish more people would learn about the truth of slavery in America and the abolition movement.

Are you seriously calling the Underground Railroad a myth!…read more Currently in the tour, even when I asked for clarification, the tour guide denied the network and organization of the underground railroad. I have a graduate degree in history and have visited Underground railroad homes in Kentucky and Ohio and the information the guide is giving is counter to history. She also said the family stopped supporting slavery and in the same breath said they made ships...USED for the slave trade!!! Which means they still made their wealth through slavery. This is the most disappointing historical house I've visited and for an abolitionist home, I expect more than a slavery apologist giving false history to the masses. Even southern homes in Alabama provided a more realistic truth. Underground Railroad was coined BEFORE the Civil War (in Kentucky). There WERE indeed hideaways in house (my hometown has houses with them still today). The Underground Railroad was relatively organized at the time. Communication, lights in windows, extractors, etc. Please visit Rugby, Ohio. Read some books. Get a history degree.

I stopped by on the way back from Burlington to New York to stretch my legs and I'm so glad I did!…read more When I stopped by they were having an international contest of atlatl, an ancient hunting weapon, a wooden handle to help launch spears. I have never heard of it, but the mechanics of it made sense to me when explained - it works a lot better than throwing spears with bare hands. Apple trees in front of the museum was loaded with nice apples. I was so surprised to see them, because in Central New York we had a terrible apple year this year, producing something like only under 10% of the usual year. Our local orchard that usually have their stands full of apples had none this year, and they were selling vegetables instead. I asked and I was told that it's because Lake Chaplain protected those trees from frost damage at a wrong time of year. Whoa! I am so glad that I feel like I learned quite a bit at the museum about the history of Vermont in this quick visit. For example, I learned that Burlington where my son is at was under water many thousands of years ago. The history of Native Americans (Abenakis), the French, the British and Americans were nicely organized and displayed. I loved looking at the preserved tavern, and explanations about period clothings that were displayed upstairs. Loved photographs and paintings of local birds, also upstairs, in the hallway. I also enjoyed reading bout Olmsted and looking at the carved canoe. I had no idea they burn the wood to hollow out the wood to make those canoes - it makes complete sense but somehow I used to imagine they must have carved the woods out by hands. It was cool to look up at the bridge from below, too! It's definitely a great place to make a stop to stretch your legs during your drive.

What a fantastic not-so-hidden gem with about 9000 years of history, some of which is on display…read more And for $5 admission....what a bargain. This description form their website tells it better than I can: "Chimney Point on Lake Champlain in Vermont is one of the earliest, most intensely settled, and most strategic sites in the Champlain Valley, with human habitation dating back as far as 9,000 years ago. Exhibits and special events present the story of the three early cultures in the Chimney Point area - Native American, French Colonial and early American." The 18 photos I've posted only scratch the surface and begin to tell this marvelous story. Please check the calendar. Hours and dates are limited: (2018) OPEN: May 26, 2018 - October 14, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open Wednesday through Sunday and Monday holidays