The Shelburne Museum Overview, Shelburne VT

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

If there is one thing I want to see while in Vermont, this museum is it. Fortunately it's not far from our home base in South Hero, Grand Isle, Lake Champlain. This round barn, originally from East Passumpsic VT, 1901, houses the McClure Visitor Center, museum entrance and most of the Full Throttle: Vintage Motorcycles, Custom Choppers and Racing Machines; all on special exhibit this season.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This is but one example of a custom chopper. More will follow. Admission covers two continuous days, and we needed every minute to cover the 39 buildings containing exhibits on approximately 45 acres.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

One of the most visited exhibits is the steam ship Ticonderoga, originally in Shelburne Harbor in 1906. It is a National Historic Landmark Lake Champlain Steamboat and the story of moving it to this location is a story all by itself.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This lighthouse, originally from Colchester Reef, Lake Champlain, 1871 is currently filled with the folk art of Warren Kimble. It is an awesome exhibit.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

Here is a sample of what is inside. An entire post will be shown for this and many other exhibits; all too awesome to cover in just one post.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

An example of the many gardens, the Bostwick Memorial Garden is but one example. The sculpture, Turtle Baby, is by artist Edith Parsons, (1878-1956).

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This lamp, a Louis Comfort Tiffany, is part of the Nature by Design display of jewelry, lamps, stained glass and furniture currently in the Webb Gallery. You'll see more soon!

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This covered bridge came from Cambridge, Vermont, 1845. This museum is quintessential Vermont. You literally get the feeling for the entire state by visiting this museum.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This moose is part of the bronzes of the American West exhibit, contained downstairs in the Electra Havemeyer Webb Memorial Building.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This original Heidelberg press is contained in the Print Shop, built in 1955, containing presses from the 1820s to the 1950s. To my knowledge, they are in working condition, and provide wonderful job security for someone!

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This blacksmith shop came from Shelburne in 1800. Docents do a great job of demonstrating all the crafts shown, and this living museum is truly an American treasure.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

The Shaker Shed (Canterbury, New Hampshire, 1840) contains woodworking tools, ironwork, housewares and more. The entire museum contains over 150,000 items; impossible to cover in two days.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

Now we come to the Horseshoe Barn, built in 1949, to house carriages, wagons and sleighs.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

Look at the unique vertical and ornate machine on the right side of the fireplace. I believe the museum contained 4 or 5 of these. Think of them as the original rotisserie. Although they were made in Europe, settlers brought them to tend their meats while roasting. I've never seen these before and found them fascinating. I should add that while photography is allowed, must flash photography is NOT allowed, making for some very poor picture quality. Therefore, I have not included many of the interesting interiors of the houses on display. The website, listing at the end of this post, will show more.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

This horseshoe shaped building is the Circus Building, built in 1965 to house a miniature circus parade, three-ring circus, circus posters, carousel figures, and special exhibition on collections, care & conservation.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

An example of a carousel figure from the Circus Building.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

The Meeting House came from Charlotte, Vermont, 1840.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

One of only a handful of decent pictures I took from the Variety Unit containing decorative arts, glassware, pewter, ceramics, scrimshaw, dolls and more. Everything is under glass and the lights bounce off everything.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

The Vermont House Gallery (Shelburne, VT, 1790) houses selections of American and European Art from the collection of Theodore H. Church.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

An example of the beautiful dolls upstairs in the Variety Unit.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

An example of American Art from the Church collection in the Vermont House Gallery.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

A one room 19th century rural school house moved to the museum in 1947.

From Shelbourne Museum Overview

The Hat and Fragrance Textile Gallery features the quilts of Florence Peto, Patty Yoder Rugs of the Black House Farm, and other exhibits on loan from 1914 - 1945.

The posts that follow this will be a snapshot of many of the exhibits, presented mostly without commentary. Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888 - 1960), the daughter of Sugar Baron H.O. and Louisine Havemeyer travelled the world with her parents, ardent collectors of European and Asia art, grew up with an eye for the extraordinary. She collected anything and everything she found beauty in, and the result is this wonderful museum of American Art. I hope you enjoy this as much as Bob & I.

For further information: The Shelburne Museum

Visiting Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

On this Saturday, our first full day in Vermont, the only thing we know for sure is that we want to avoid Burlington with all the parents and kids. So, we decide to head east. And of course, no visit to Vermont would be complete without a visit to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Going south on I-89, the town of Waterbury is our first stop. This is the original home of Ben & Jerry's.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

It seems like every tourist along with their children & grandchildren are here this rainy Saturday afternoon. Still, it's interesting to learn that these two friends started their company with an idea and a $5 investment in a correspondence course on how to make ice cream. Some success story!

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

After our sample tasting (Actually neither Bob nor I really like their ice cream; we both find it too sweet.) we head north on VT 100 towards Waterbury Center and find this little shopping center.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Every shop in Vermont seems to sell Vermont maple syrup and apple cider, but here we find the Green Mountain Camera. They have an interesting display of antique cameras, and although they are behind glass, I do my best to take a few photos.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Poor as these are, at least you get the idea. Bob buys a hood for our lens and I buy a book on Vermont. We leave happy.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Continuing north, we stop at this cider mill for a sample and more pictures.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Our last stop is in Stowe, the premium resort area of Vermont. Although Vermont is called the Green Mountain state, I would call it the Church Steeple state. Our first stop, however, is at The Shed for an early dinner.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

After eating, we drive around the town and actually drive down the wrong street & come to this cemetery. I roll down the window & take this picture, prior to heading back to town.

The only trouble with quaint villages are the telephone poles and massive electric wires. They are inescapable! Without a wide angle lens, I keep backing up trying to get pictures of all the steeples, but still have a hard time of it.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Finally on our way home, our road makes a dramatic trip up the mountain where we almost hit a giant rock on a hairpin turn, then came to the clouds, followed by this waterfall. All in all, it is a great day with some very interesting scenery.

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

From Ben & Jerry's & a visit to Stowe, VT

Tomorrow we will visit the Shelborne Museum and I can hardly wait.

For further information: Green Mountain Camera

Driving to Vermont

From Drive to VT & Burlington

I spot this wonderful weather vane & pull over at this lovely NY rest stop.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

Most states don't have such interesting rest stops, and we wanted a reason to get out & stretch our legs.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

A short time thereafter, Lake Champlain comes into view along with the bridge that will take us to Vermont. Excitement mounts!

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

The last town in NY, Rouses Point.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

This silly picture shows just how close we are to the border. Bob happens to be driving, and he made the turn before the camera booted up. In spite of the mirror blocking the view, what I am trying to show is the US Customs near the Canadian border.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

The view out the driver's side is the Fort Montgomery ruins, still on the NY side of Lake Champlain.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

This picture shows Lake Champlain on the passenger side, with the Green Mountains in the background.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

Church Street, Burlington VT, reminds us of Boulder CO. It's busy 7 days a week and something is always going on.

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

While fumbling for parking meter money, a nice young couple from Portland OR helped us out. Not only did they donate fifty cents to our cause (parking meters were not exactly on our minds & we came unprepared) they also explained that good restaurants were few and far between. One of their suggestions was the Skinny Pancake. Shown above is the cart version, but we decide to walk down to Lake Street for the real deal, and were glad we did. Thanks you two!

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

From Drive to VT & Burlington

It turns out we have arrived on the worst of weekends, or I should say this particular Friday. Burlington is home to the University of Vermont, Champlain College, Trinity College, and St. Michaela College, and this is the weekend all the parents are bringing their charges for orientation weekend. What a traffic mess! For the rest of the weekend, you can be certain we'll stay out of the city!