Washington County - Museum Directory

Sullivan Museum and History Center, Norwich University

Please Note: We make every effort to ensure the information listed for open hours or events is accurate, but we recommend contacting the organization directly to confirm before making plans to visit.

Barre Historical Society

Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite Street, Barre, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 496, Barre, VT 05641
Contact: Ruth Ruttenberg, President, (802) 479-5600

Owner of the Socialist Party Labor Hall National Historic Landmark, 46 Granite Street, Barre. Hall available for rental up to 300 persons. Covid restrictions apply. Annual events include a celebration of Primo Maggio -- International Workers' Day -- May 1. 

Berlin Historical Society

Town Hall, 108 Shed Road, Berlin, VT
Mailing Address: c/o Town Hall, 108 Shed Road, Berlin, VT 05602
Contact: Corinne Cooper, President, (802) 324-6622

Our growing collection includes files on Berlin families, cemeteries, schools, churches, roads, parks, obituaries, wars, various Berlin related stories and histories, structure fires, train accidents, murders, several displays, any photographs, recordings of programs & interviews, books including those by Berlin authors, and artifacts. Two books continue to be available for sale: "A Place to Pass Through: Berlin, Vermont 1820-1991" and "From Barre-Montpelier to E.F. Knapp: The Story of a Small Airport in Berlin, Vermont."

Hours & Admission: Visitors by appointment, potentially even the same day. Please call (802) 324-6622.

Cabot Historical Society

3216 Main St, Cabot VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 275, Cabot, Vermont 05647
Phone: (802) 563-3396

Preserves and disseminates the history of Cabot, Vermont. We have two museum buildings, a restored rural one-room schoolhouse and the first school building in Cabot Village. Our collections include documents and items from Cabot's agricultural past. Details at our website pages. 

Hours & Admission: By appointment mid- May - October 31. In-person events suspended while Covid-19 restrictions are in place.

Calais Historical Society

261 Robinson Cemetery Rd, Calais, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 87, Calais, VT, 05648
Phone: (802) 223-1658
Contact: Donna Fitch, President

The Society's major functions are to discover, collect, catalog, and preserve materials that help to establish and illustrate the history of the town -- its life, conditions, events and activities of the past and present. These may include digital, printed, and manuscript materials, museum and material objects, and historical monuments and markers.  Visitors by appointment.

Duxbury Historical Society

459-471 VT Rte 100, South Duxbury, VT
Mailing Address: 804 VT Route 100, South Duxbury, VT 05660-9131
Phone: (802) 244-7080
Contact: Mark Morse, Treasurer

Visitors by appointment.

East Montpelier Historical Society

Town Office, 40 Kelton Rd, East Montpelier , VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 63, East Montpelier, VT 05651
Phone: (802) 223-6466
Contact: Sandal Cate, President

Our society meets monthly, Feb.-Nov., with the Calais Historical Society in local facilities to provide potluck suppers, programs and business meetings. We have some field trips. Our town history is Across the Onion, available at Town Office. Program schedule and publications, etc., listed on website.

Hours and Admission: We do not have a physical location. The Town Office provides some display space, sells our publications and maintains our historical files. The Town Clerk will try to answer your questions or inquiries to his/her best knowledge. 802-223-3313

Fayston Historical Society

Fayston, VT
Mailing Address: 3685 North Fayston Road, Moretown, VT 05660
Phone: (802) 496-2083
Contact: Nicolle Migneault, rmigneault@aol.com

May 1 - December 1: by appointment

Marshfield Historical Society

Hap Hayward History Center, Old Schoolhouse Common
Mailing Address: 122 School Street, Marshfield, VT 05658
Phone: (802) 426-3411
Contact: Jenny Warshow, President

Exhibits of local history collection and programs of area interest. Visitors welcome during weekdays and Saturdays consistent with Jaquith Library hours.

Middlesex Historical Society

5 Church Street, Middlesex, VT
Mailing Address: c/o 262 Westwood Drive, Montpelier VT. 05602
Phone: (802) 272-8074
Contact: Patricia Wiley, President

The society was founded in 1993 and does not yet have a permanent home. In 2006 the society published the first comprehensive written history of the town of Middlesex. Ongoing projects include collecting oral history, photographs, and other items for future display. 

Montpelier Historical Society

Montpelier, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 54, Montpelier, VT 05601
Phone: (603) 542-7688
Contact: George Edson

The society does not have a museum, but does show its artifacts at occasions in the City Hall first floor lobby, at election days outside the polling areas, and as opportunities arise in local store windows. The society has restored the miniature statehouse that was once located at the Toy Town Cabins on Lower State Street. The model will be on permanent display at Morse Farm Sugar House on County Road in East Montpelier. A variety of Montpelier artifacts are stored locally. Visitors by appointment.

Moretown Historical Society

Memorial Library, Moretown, VT
Mailing Address: 800 South Hill Road, Moretown, VT 05660
Phone: (802) 496-2090
Contact: Denise Gabaree, President

Meetings are the 3rd Monday of each month at 5:00 pm. 

 

Northfield Historical Society

Governor Charles Paine House, 75 South Main Street, Northfield, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 422, Northfield, VT 05663
Phone: (802) 485-4792, Charles Paine House
Website: www.nhsvt.org

Hours and Admission: Open by appointment with regular hours in the summer; see our website or contact us for the summer hours schedule. Admission is free but donations are graciously accepted.

Plainfield Historical Society

Municipal Building, 149 Main St, Plainfield, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 283, Plainfield, VT 05667
Contact: Robert Fancher

The Museum is on the second floor of the municipal building. 

Hours and Admission: Open by appointment.

Roxbury Historical Society

VT Rte 12 A, Roxbury, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 331, Roxbury, VT 05669
Phone: (802) 485-5619
Website: roxburyvt.org
Contact: Susan Nevins

Tiny building, ca. 1850, which serves as an eclectic town museum. Not for research purposes.

Hours and Admission: Independence Day Celebration and by appointment. 

Sullivan Museum & History Center

Norwich University, 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, VT 05663
Phone: (802) 485-2183
Contact: John Hart, Director

The Sullivan Museum & History Center welcomes visitors to explore Norwich University's rich 200-year history in a 21st-century, state-of-the-art facility.

Hours and Admission: Admission is free. Open Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Open Saturdays during the academic year 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

T.W. Wood Gallery

46 Barre Street, Montpelier, VT 05602
Phone: (802) 262-6035
Contact: Margaret Coleman, Executive Director

Central Vermont's Museum Dedicated to American Fine Art. Founded in 1895, the T. W. Wood Gallery & Arts Center houses a large Permanent Collection of artwork. In addition to the works of T.W. Wood (who was a native son of Montpelier, Vermont) and many of his artistic colleagues and contemporaries. The Gallery is also the repository for Vermont's portion of the Federal Works Projects Administration (WPA) collection.

Hours and Admission: Admission is free. Gallery is open Tuesday-Saturdays 12:00-4:00 pm and by appointment.

Vermont Granite Museum

7 Jones Brothers Way, Barre, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 282, Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 476-4605
Contact: Dr. Scott A. McLaughlin, Executive Director, director@vtgranitemuseum.org

The Vermont Granite Museum of Barre is housed in a 300-foot long 1895 granite cutting shed. Along the Stevens Branch of the Winooski River, the Museum owns approximately 12 acres of land, consisting of the archaeological remains of the Jones Brothers Company complex and another granite company. The Museum contains interactive exhibits about the hand tools, machines, processes, products, companies, people, and important events that define the heritage of Vermont’s granite industry.

Hours and Admission: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am to 4pm from May through October.

Waitsfield Historical Society

General Benjamin Wait House, VT Route 100, Waitsfield, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 816, Waitsfield, VT 05673
Phone: 802-793-6037
Contact: Lois DeHeer

The society's home originally belonged to General Benjamin Wait and was moved to its present location in 1830. It was renovated in 1997. The society office and museum rooms are on the main floor of the Wait House. The exhibits are changed periodically and are open to the public when the Wait House is open. The society specializes in oral histories, military artifacts, research materials, genealogies, and photographs (mostly from 1870-1920).

Hours and Admission:Wednesdays: 2:00 to 5:00 pm (May-October), 2:00 to 4:00 pm (November-April). Admission is free. 

Warren Historical Society

Blair Barn, 42 Cemetery Rd, Warren, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 337, Warren, VT 05674
Phone: (802) 496-2709
Contact: Leon Bruno, President

The Historical Society has recently restored the Blair Barn, and it now holds artifacts and exhibits depicting Warren and its history.

Waterbury Historical Society

28 North Main Street, Waterbury, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 708, Waterbury, VT 05676
Phone: (802) 598-1553
Contact: Cheryl Casey, President, cheryl.casey1010@gmail.com

Our History Center is located in the historic home of Dr. Henry Janes, Civil War surgeon and beloved local doctor. We display an extensive collection of artifacts, documents, and photographs that tell Waterbury's rich story of innovation, community engagement, entrepreneurship, and leadership, with quarterly programs and special events held throughout the year. Browse our digital collections at https://waterbury.pastperfectonline.com/                     

Hours and Admission: 8:00 am-4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Admission to the History Center is free and available to the public for self-guided tours.

Woodbury Historical Society

Woodbury, VT
Mailing Address: 344 Maple Rd, Calais, VT 05650

Visitors by appointment.

Worcester Historical Society

Old White School, 17 Calais Road, Worcester, VT
Mailing Address: PO Box 329, Worcester, VT 05682
Phone: (802) 223-5625
Contact: David Book, President

The society has recently completed major projects to renovate its headquarters building, the 1892 Village School. It organizes a yearly townwide 4th of July celebration, including fireworks, as well as numerous music and fundraising events. A yearly calendar is also available. Visitors by appointment.

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