Burlington VT

We've had a busy time in Burlington area!   The first two days we were here we revisited the Shelburne Museum.   It really does take two days!   The museum has 39 buildings on 45 acres of land and 150,000 artifacts!    The museum was started by the Webb family who used their fortune to collect buildings and artifacts.   One of the items that was collected was the Ticonderoga the last paddle wheel boat that traveled Lake Champlainel until the 1950's.   The Webb's bought the boat and brought it two miles inland to the Museum.   The Webbs had an eye for art, and their collection included Monet, Manet, Cassette, and they donated 2000 pieces to art galleries in New York and Chicago and the Shelburne Museum has an extensive collection as well.  

The Ethan Allen Homestead is a rather "new" addition to the historical scene in Burlington.   In 1981 a researcher was delving into the history of Ethan Allen and in looking at his papers, discovered the blueprint for Ethan's home with exact coordinates of where it was to be built.   He found a white house with the approximate size on land where Ethan Allen's home was to be built.    The house contained the 1700 timbers and inner space was indeed the footprint of Ethan's house.   They dismantaled the house and moved the timbers a short distance away and rebuilt Ethan's house and it opened to the public in 1995.  

On another day we drove about 35 miles NE to the Champlain islands.   Our goal was Saint Anne's Shrine on Isle La Motte and the Hyde Log Cabin on grand Isle, VT.   The Shrine is on the site of Fort St. Anne, Vermont's oldest settlement, constructed in 1666 where the first Mass in Vermont was celebrated.  Although the Fort itself was shortlived, the site continued to be a favorite stopping place for Lake Champlain travelers.   The Shrine includes a Cafe, Gift Shop, Picnic facilites, a chapel where Mass is offered on weekends.  There are many grottos and statues on the grounds.   In addition, a statue of Samuel de Champlain is located on the site, where it is claimed that he landed in 1609 .  

On the way back from Isle La Motte we stopped at the Hyde Log Cabin and Block Schoolhouse.   The log cabin was built by Jedediah Hyde Jr. in 1783.  It is considered to be one of the oldest log cabins in the US.   The cabin served as a home to various members of the Hyde family for nearly 150 years.  The cabin contains some of the original furnishings, as well as furnishings from other homes in the county.  

The Block Schoolhouse was originally knows as District #4 Schoolhouse, but became known as the Block Schoolhouse because of its construction of foot-thick squared-off logs.   The school was built in 1814 and was used as a school, a church, and a town meeting hall.  

On returning to the mainland we went north on I-89 to Fairfield to see the site of the birthplace of Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States.   The site has a reconstructed homestead and offers an exhibit portraying Arthur's life and political career.

Moving on to the White River Junction region on the eastern central area of Vermont.