Just north of Middlebury, VT and about 30-minutes from our inn is a quaint town called Shelburne. It is here that you will find a special 45-acre museum with an eye-catching red round barn and hundreds of lilac bushes. It is the Shelburne Museum and we have only scratched the surface of what you will find on a visit here.
The Shelburne Museum houses over 150,000 works of art, design, and Americana in 38 exhibition buildings scattered across the property. Electra Havemeyer Webb is the incredible lady who founded this museum in 1947. As she collected an incredible array of art and artifacts, she also helped relocate over 20 historic structures to the museum property. These included a 220-foot steamboat called Ticonderoga, a one-room schoolhouse, a general store, a lighthouse, a covered bridge, houses, and barns. She
wanted to create a unique and memorable experience for visitors and set out to design a village-like setting with historic New England architecture. In addition to the myriad of lilac bushes, you will also find an herb and heirloom vegetable gardens, perennial gardens, and a gorgeous circular formal garden.
There is so much to see here as her collections include American paintings, Impressionist paintings, folk art, quilts, carriages, costumes, circus figures and posters, decorative arts, and many toys. As you roam from building to building, each one brings an entirely new collection of pieces to admire. There are surprises at every turn and it is truly a museum like none other. It is wonderful, eclectic, and not-to-be-missed experience. You will want to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and a water bottle if it will be warm outside.
After your day of exploring you can come back to our inn and rest your feet, enjoy a glass of wine in the library, or retreat to your luxurious, private suite. It is the perfect time of year to visit Vermont—book your room online today before the summer sun is gone!
Comments