The annual Art from the Schools exhibit fills the galleries with the exuberant and colorful drawings, paintings, and sculptures created by students in area schools. These showcase local and regional artists. Inside, a dozen galleries display a continuously changing series of contemporary art exhibits. Giant-sized contemporary sculptures decorate the large field, and you'll see more in the woods alongside the road as you climb to the Yester House, another summer mansion, built in 1917 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's easy to spot the approach road to the Southern Vermont Arts Center as you drive along West Road, which parallels Route 7-A between Manchester Center and Village. Southern Vermont Arts Center Southern Vermont Arts Center | Photo Copyright: Stillman Rogers With the abundance of cut and broken marble from the quarries in neighboring Dorset, this was a logical – and thrifty – paving material.ģ. Look down as you walk along this tree-shaded promenade, and you'll see that the sidewalks are made of slabs and irregular pieces of marble. Architectural styles are mixed: Federal, Greek Revival, Colonial Revival, shingle style, and combinations of these. This designation refers to the stretch of stately homes along Route 7-A, a promenade dating from the 1850s and the oldest part of Manchester. John's Episcopal Chapel farther south along "The Street." The notable 19th-century buildings include the 1871 First Congregational Church and the 1822 Courthouse opposite the hotel, as well as the Gothic Revival St. The stately white columns of the venerable The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa dominate one side of the ensemble of buildings at the heart of the village, which is listed as the Equinox House Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. Stroll through Manchester Village Historic District Manchester Village | Photo Copyright: Stillman Rogers Especially interesting are the display panels along the platform, delving into the work of the Black porters who served on these lavish trains, and their struggle for fair wages and working conditions.Īddress: 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vermont More recent additions to the estate are a goat farm and cheese dairy (you can buy the cheeses at the gift shop) and a beautifully restored Pullman Car, similar to those used by wealthy summer families arriving in Manchester. Beautiful even in the winter, when the pattern defined by the lines of privet hedge are visible through the snow, the formal garden is at its showiest in June, when more than 1,000 peonies are in full bloom. The latter have been restored, along with the formal gardens designed by his daughter, Jesse. He established a working farm with a dairy herd, chickens, and kitchen gardens. Robert Todd Lincoln was more than a summer visitor to Hildene. You can tour the family's living areas, as well as the kitchen, pantry, and rooms used by the household staff. The estate remained in the family until the 1970s, so today the restored mansion is furnished in many pieces from Mary Todd Lincoln's family and displays personal items of President Lincoln, including his stovepipe hat. The result was the Georgian Revival Hildene. Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln and president of Pullman Company, was visiting the summer home of his business partner when he saw a spot overlooking the Battenkill Valley and the mountains, and determined to build a country estate there. They stayed at the Equinox or built sumptuous summer mansions of their own. In the mid-1800s, Manchester was a popular summer retreat for wealthy urban families to escape the city heat. Visit Hildene Hildene Gardens | Photo Copyright: Stillman Rogers You'll find plenty of attractions and places to go with this list of the best things to do in Manchester.ġ. One of these, Mount Equinox, rises directly from the charming Manchester Village, and trails to its summit begin just a few steps away from the luxury hotels. The surrounding mountains provide even more things to do in Manchester, with their hiking trails and ski slopes, even a skyline drive leading to 360-degree views. A mile to the north, the commercial district of Manchester Center is one of the most popular places to visit in Vermont, lined with name-brand outlet shops. The picturesque and historic enclave of Manchester Village invites strolling along its marble sidewalks or a relaxing hike around Equinox Pond. Many of them built elegant summer homes overlooking the beautiful Battenkill Valley, some of which have since become tourist attractions or charming inns. Since the late 1800s, when it was a popular summer destination for wealthy city families, tourists have found plenty of things to do in Manchester.
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