Washington County - Museum Directory
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
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
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
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
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
Visitors by appointment.
East Montpelier Historical Society
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
May 1 - December 1: by appointment
Marshfield Historical Society
Exhibits of local history collection and programs of area interest. Visitors welcome during weekdays and Saturdays consistent with Jaquith Library hours.
Middlesex Historical Society
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
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
Meetings are the 3rd Monday of each month at 5:00 pm.
Northfield Historical Society
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
The Museum is on the second floor of the municipal building.
Hours and Admission: Open by appointment.
Roxbury Historical Society
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
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
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
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
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
The Historical Society has recently restored the Blair Barn, and it now holds artifacts and exhibits depicting Warren and its history.
Waterbury Historical Society
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
Visitors by appointment.
Worcester Historical Society
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.