The Vermont Historical Society
@vermonthistory.org
Vermont's state historical society, an independent nonprofit, located in Montpelier and Barre.
http://www.vermonthistory.org
http://www.vermonthistory.org
On the evening of December 16th, 1773, Boston residents staged an anti-tax protest in Boston Harbor, destroying hundreds of chests of imported tea by throwing them into the harbor.
Image via The Library of Congress.
Image via The Library of Congress.
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
On the evening of December 16th, 1773, Boston residents staged an anti-tax protest in Boston Harbor, destroying hundreds of chests of imported tea by throwing them into the harbor.
Image via The Library of Congress.
Image via The Library of Congress.
"In 1922, Vermont became the first New England state to support a bookmobile. At the time, it was known as the “Vermont Book Wagon”. The term “Bookmobile” did not become commonplace in Vermont until the 1930s.
December 16, 2025 at 8:32 PM
"In 1922, Vermont became the first New England state to support a bookmobile. At the time, it was known as the “Vermont Book Wagon”. The term “Bookmobile” did not become commonplace in Vermont until the 1930s.
Shopping for the holidays? We publish has a wide range of books about Vermont’s history, exploring all sorts of fascinating topics that’ll leave you with a better understanding and appreciation of the Green Mountain State!
December 13, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Shopping for the holidays? We publish has a wide range of books about Vermont’s history, exploring all sorts of fascinating topics that’ll leave you with a better understanding and appreciation of the Green Mountain State!
We are very pleased to announce the next cohort for our Activating 21st Century Local History Training Program for 2026!
December 11, 2025 at 4:52 PM
We are very pleased to announce the next cohort for our Activating 21st Century Local History Training Program for 2026!
The latest issue of our member magazine, History, Connections, is now headed out to VHS members! This issue is all about the Spalding building in Barre and includes articles about:
December 10, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The latest issue of our member magazine, History, Connections, is now headed out to VHS members! This issue is all about the Spalding building in Barre and includes articles about:
Today at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier: join us for a reception for the Vermont Tunebooks Tradition exhibit from 1-3! Come learn about Vermont's music history with the exhibit's curators, with free admission and refreshments.
December 6, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Today at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier: join us for a reception for the Vermont Tunebooks Tradition exhibit from 1-3! Come learn about Vermont's music history with the exhibit's curators, with free admission and refreshments.
We have some bittersweet news: we're sad to report that our Stewardship Coordinator, Daphne Kinney-Landis, is leaving for a new opportunity.
December 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
We have some bittersweet news: we're sad to report that our Stewardship Coordinator, Daphne Kinney-Landis, is leaving for a new opportunity.
Author Jack Kelly stopped by the VHS bookstore in Montpelier to sign copies of two of his books: Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty and God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hared Man!
November 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Author Jack Kelly stopped by the VHS bookstore in Montpelier to sign copies of two of his books: Valcour: The 1776 Campaign That Saved the Cause of Liberty and God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hared Man!
We have a new position on our team: Stewardship Coordinator. This position is on our development team and is responsible for the stewardship of our members and volunteers and the handling of day-to-day operations of the organization.
You can find out more here: vermonthistory.org/career-oppor...
You can find out more here: vermonthistory.org/career-oppor...
November 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
We have a new position on our team: Stewardship Coordinator. This position is on our development team and is responsible for the stewardship of our members and volunteers and the handling of day-to-day operations of the organization.
You can find out more here: vermonthistory.org/career-oppor...
You can find out more here: vermonthistory.org/career-oppor...
Fanny Allen, the eldest child of Ethan and Frances Montresor Buchanan Allen was born on this day in Sunderland Vermont in 1784. She was only five her father died, and her family relocated to Westminster, where her mother married Dr. Jabez Penniman.
November 13, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Fanny Allen, the eldest child of Ethan and Frances Montresor Buchanan Allen was born on this day in Sunderland Vermont in 1784. She was only five her father died, and her family relocated to Westminster, where her mother married Dr. Jabez Penniman.
If you're driving by the Vermont History Center in Barre in the next couple of weeks, you'll see some pretty dramatic things taking place. A large, covered scaffolding has been erected on the front of the building, while excavators and workers are busy digging up the grounds. What's going on?
November 13, 2025 at 3:49 PM
If you're driving by the Vermont History Center in Barre in the next couple of weeks, you'll see some pretty dramatic things taking place. A large, covered scaffolding has been erected on the front of the building, while excavators and workers are busy digging up the grounds. What's going on?
The United States Mint announced on Wednesday that it had officially struck the last penny after 232 years in production.
Here's one of the *billions* of the pennies that the mint struck that we now have in our collection
Here's one of the *billions* of the pennies that the mint struck that we now have in our collection
November 13, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The United States Mint announced on Wednesday that it had officially struck the last penny after 232 years in production.
Here's one of the *billions* of the pennies that the mint struck that we now have in our collection
Here's one of the *billions* of the pennies that the mint struck that we now have in our collection
Applications are now open for the second Activating 21st Century Local History cohort!
If your local historical society is looking to revitalize your collecting priorities and tell meaningful stories about your town, you'd be a great fit for this program.
If your local historical society is looking to revitalize your collecting priorities and tell meaningful stories about your town, you'd be a great fit for this program.
November 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Applications are now open for the second Activating 21st Century Local History cohort!
If your local historical society is looking to revitalize your collecting priorities and tell meaningful stories about your town, you'd be a great fit for this program.
If your local historical society is looking to revitalize your collecting priorities and tell meaningful stories about your town, you'd be a great fit for this program.
Here's an item from our collection from that era: a red cotton promotional handkerchief for the Garfield/Arthur campaign, featuring portraits of both men. It was likely made in 1880, and was owned by Jonathan Nothrup of Fairfield, who babysat Arthur as a child.
November 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Here's an item from our collection from that era: a red cotton promotional handkerchief for the Garfield/Arthur campaign, featuring portraits of both men. It was likely made in 1880, and was owned by Jonathan Nothrup of Fairfield, who babysat Arthur as a child.
Netflix recently released a new miniseries: Death by Lightning, about President James A. Garfield's election in 1880, his eventual assassination in 1881, and his succession by his Vice President, the Vermont-born Chester A. Arthur.
November 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Netflix recently released a new miniseries: Death by Lightning, about President James A. Garfield's election in 1880, his eventual assassination in 1881, and his succession by his Vice President, the Vermont-born Chester A. Arthur.
Here's one of his paintings that he produced: "The Craftsman," commissioned by Rock of Ages and painted in 1962. It's now in the collection of the Shelburne Museum.
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Here's one of his paintings that he produced: "The Craftsman," commissioned by Rock of Ages and painted in 1962. It's now in the collection of the Shelburne Museum.
Sunday marks the end of daylight savings time: set your clocks (and watches) back an hour at 2:00AM on Sunday, November 2nd.
Here's a pocket watch from our collection: it was made sometime around 1790 and was owned by Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of Vermont.
Here's a pocket watch from our collection: it was made sometime around 1790 and was owned by Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of Vermont.
November 1, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Sunday marks the end of daylight savings time: set your clocks (and watches) back an hour at 2:00AM on Sunday, November 2nd.
Here's a pocket watch from our collection: it was made sometime around 1790 and was owned by Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of Vermont.
Here's a pocket watch from our collection: it was made sometime around 1790 and was owned by Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of Vermont.
Happy Halloween! Here's a fun picture from our library collection: a "Horribles" parade that took place on July 4th in St. Albans in 1872. These types of parades often featured people dressing up in comedic, satirical, and grotesque costumes, often in conjunction with Independence Day celebrations.
October 31, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Happy Halloween! Here's a fun picture from our library collection: a "Horribles" parade that took place on July 4th in St. Albans in 1872. These types of parades often featured people dressing up in comedic, satirical, and grotesque costumes, often in conjunction with Independence Day celebrations.
The latest issue of Vermont History is finally here! This is our scholarly journal, and it showcases the latest scholarship into Vermont’s history.
October 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The latest issue of Vermont History is finally here! This is our scholarly journal, and it showcases the latest scholarship into Vermont’s history.
We’re thrilled to welcome VHS members to the Vermont History Center in Barre for our 187th Annual Meeting!
October 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
We’re thrilled to welcome VHS members to the Vermont History Center in Barre for our 187th Annual Meeting!
Here's an item from the battle that we have in our collection: a fragment of wood from the schooner Royal Savage, the flagship of General Benedict Arnold. It was retrieved from the wreckage by a diver in 1886, and it's now on display at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier.
October 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Here's an item from the battle that we have in our collection: a fragment of wood from the schooner Royal Savage, the flagship of General Benedict Arnold. It was retrieved from the wreckage by a diver in 1886, and it's now on display at the Vermont History Museum in Montpelier.
The Battle of Valcour Island took place on October 11th, 1776 on Lake Champlain. This was one of the very first naval battles that took place during the American Revolution.
October 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The Battle of Valcour Island took place on October 11th, 1776 on Lake Champlain. This was one of the very first naval battles that took place during the American Revolution.
We have an item in our collection that's related to this era of history: a small flag with the symbol of the Fenian Brotherhood on it, owned by Thomas Williams who was born 1853 in Balinmahon Ireland and who arrived in the US at the age of 19.
October 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
We have an item in our collection that's related to this era of history: a small flag with the symbol of the Fenian Brotherhood on it, owned by Thomas Williams who was born 1853 in Balinmahon Ireland and who arrived in the US at the age of 19.
Here are 2 images from our collection: they're each of postcard with an image of the fire. The messages on the back recount the news of the fire to their recipients in Chicago.
October 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Here are 2 images from our collection: they're each of postcard with an image of the fire. The messages on the back recount the news of the fire to their recipients in Chicago.
On this day in Vermont's history: a grain elevator in Richford exploded in 1908. According to a newspaper report, the disaster killed thirteen people, destroyed 75 freight cars, and shook the entire village. The blast reportedly blew everyone within a quarter mile off their feet.
October 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
On this day in Vermont's history: a grain elevator in Richford exploded in 1908. According to a newspaper report, the disaster killed thirteen people, destroyed 75 freight cars, and shook the entire village. The blast reportedly blew everyone within a quarter mile off their feet.