What a treat! Highly recommend this spot to view an eclectic and vast assortment of items. Found…read morethis place on Reddit, and really didn't know what to expect. A perfect slightly-rainy day activity, but bring an umbrella. AAA and student discounts available. Open seasonally (check their website) but daily from 10am-5pm. We arrived at 10:30am and didn't leave until closing @ 5pm. They allow you to visit the following day if you show your receipt. We took our time, stopping by the cafe a couple times, only rushing a bit in the last 20 minutes, although we did not see the exhibitions in the shiny and new exhibition center near the entrance. Could definitely knock this place out in one day if you were efficient. Little shuttles available (think long, covered golf carts), running every ~15 minutes. Don't miss the Prentis and Stencil House tours (10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. 45 minutes) and Ticonderoga steamboat tours (11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 45 minutes). The top floor of the Ticonderoga was closed off due to rain (potential slipping). Demonstrations at the blacksmith and printing house, which was a pleasant surprise (special thanks to Joe!). Plethora of impressive and comprehensive collections ranging from circus, carriage, taxidermy, furniture, dolls, paintings - really anything and everything!

I loved the Ticonderoga and the shuttles. Also the shuttles and the maintenance golf carts look the…read moresame so some of the time what we thought was a shuttle was a maintenance golf cart. Also it was hot out. Also loved the print shop, weaving, and the blacksmith. Carousel ride was good and smooth.

Great short day stop for families with toddlers through elementary kids…read more Lots of hands on exhibits and STEM stations with a sharp focus on preservation of the aquatic life on Lake Champlain. It's a very small museum/science center but you simply can't beat the views and location and it's a must stop for families with little kids visiting Burlington. Recommend a creemee from Marina up the top of the hill or a coffee from Skinny Pancake after and a stroll along the marina and pier.

Such a nice little aquarium and community science center! Joined a presentation about frogs and…read moreenjoyed seeing many native fish and amphibians in the exhibits.

Went here with my parents as part of our Vermont Vacation on August 27th 2023. We walked in and…read morechecked out the exhibits at the front near where we parked. Then we went in and just missed the tour of the homestead. However, Tom, who was really nice, and knew alot about history, took us to the current tour of the house. There is an admission fee for the tour, and i was lucky enough that i was given a student discount because i look young for my age. I appreciate that. Also the staff was very nice, all of them. Tom took us through to the house and told us about Ethan Allen, even told us about those beautiful flowers that one can freshly cut from the garden. Tom took us to our tour in the house, where a woman took over. Very interesting and very educational. i also enjoy history, so that is a plus. After the tour, we cut fresh flowers that were beautiful and lasted our whole vermont trip! Then we went inside and watched the movie about Ethan Allen. in the movie area, there is also dress up, and one can try to weave like in the days of when Ethan Allen was living. didn't try it, but it is so cool. highly recommend for any history buff, and my favorite tour guide was Tom. He seems to know his stuff, which is great, plus admire his energy! Oh and restrooms were very clean. Was a bit confusing at first because there is 2 gender neutral bathrooms, and i did a double take to make sure that i wasn't in the wrong place. all good though, just a little confusing, as other places don't have gender neutral bathrooms.

We really enjoyed our visit today to the Ethan Allen Homestead. Was amazed with the garden that was…read moremaintained by the director Dan and his passion for nature and Fanny and Ethan Allen and crew. Noah was a great guide full of interesting facts. The tour was of the homestead and history of the Ethan Allen family and their home and Vermont history. We spent about 11/2 hours here. Only about 2 miles from the Echo Museum.

I haven't actually been to the museum but I walked the trail behind the mill twice this spring so…read morefar! Lovely walk, not difficult and there is the river to enjoy the sound of rushing by. There are some interesting parts like waterfalls, rock steps, wooden bridges and an area with some artful graffiti. I haven't walked the whole way because of too much water (wet shoes) and darkness falling. Some day this summer I will when the days are long and the trails are dry!

Nice little trail system conveniently located on Route 15. The Snowflake Bentley exhibit is…read morecharming. The gift shop has a surprising variety of local art and hand-made items. Carefully curated with friendly service.

The museum is free to visit for all not just students and Middlebury College. I went on a Sunday…read moreafternoon, and there was almost no one there. I was absolutely blown away by the depth and breadth of this collection. There was a small sampling and representation from most major in my opinion, art periods throughout world history. We're talking Greek pottery, carvings from Africa, an Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus, original work from Andy Warhol, John Waters, and Kehinde Wiley... I was stunned to find such a diverse collection in this compact space. And they've done a really nice job of showcasing and displaying all the art; the museum has a nice flow to it and nothing feels cramped. There's also an incredible rotating contemporary exhibit on the second floor. The museum is housed inside the performing arts center on Middlebury College's campus. It is handicapped accessible. There is a staircase connecting the two floors but an elevator is also available. Excellent bathrooms located outside the museum on the main building space. Seriously like the best wheelchair accessible bathroom I've ever been in. 10/10 would definitely recommend visiting. My only regret is that I only had time to go once and it was when I was attending the Language Schools so I was living that exhausted student life and couldn't engage with the art as fully as I would have liked. If I get the opportunity I will definitely be back!

This museum is free to the public and is surprisingly extensive. My first visit was during my…read morePreview Days as a prospective student to Middlebury College. I had heard about the art museum, and my host was so gracious that he took me to go see it. He himself did not seem like an art person and I did not want to keep him in the space for too long, but I managed to nab an adorable picture with him (three years ago wow). The way the museum is designed, there is a permanent collection exhibit of the first floor displaying European and ancient artworks, whereas the second floor features another permanent exhibit on Asian art, which is behind the seasonally rotating exhibit of the second floor, which I argue is the main attraction to the museum (for me at least). I am foolish so I only really got to see four out of the six possible rotating exhibits during my time at Middlebury, which is honestly still pretty good. Many times, I have been on art museum dates with my close friends to sort of escape from the busy humdrum of studying all the time (who am I kidding though, I never study). I caught an exhibit on 1968 this past spring, a pivotal moment in American history. I missed the Keith Haring collection sadly, but I look forward to catching Islamic art this fall before it too disappears.

This is a gem in Vermont. A part of American history that must never be lost. Thank you to the…read morevolunteers and curators of this special place. Call ahead to make sure you can go on the tour of the house. Amazing artifacts, letters, stories about the 4 generations of the Robinson family. Wish more people would learn about the truth of slavery in America and the abolition movement.

Are you seriously calling the Underground Railroad a myth!…read more Currently in the tour, even when I asked for clarification, the tour guide denied the network and organization of the underground railroad. I have a graduate degree in history and have visited Underground railroad homes in Kentucky and Ohio and the information the guide is giving is counter to history. She also said the family stopped supporting slavery and in the same breath said they made ships...USED for the slave trade!!! Which means they still made their wealth through slavery. This is the most disappointing historical house I've visited and for an abolitionist home, I expect more than a slavery apologist giving false history to the masses. Even southern homes in Alabama provided a more realistic truth. Underground Railroad was coined BEFORE the Civil War (in Kentucky). There WERE indeed hideaways in house (my hometown has houses with them still today). The Underground Railroad was relatively organized at the time. Communication, lights in windows, extractors, etc. Please visit Rugby, Ohio. Read some books. Get a history degree.

We were very happy with the Star Trek Original Series Set Tour! What a chance of a lifetime to see…read moreall the sets used in the original series. This is a must see for any Star Trek enthusiast. The information shared made is very special when we returned home and started to rewatch each of the episodes. I can't thank you enough for making this available. We will need to return to see the Galileo!

After seeing all the 5 star reviews I wondered how this could be. My curiosity got the best of me…read moreand my friend and I took a ride to Ticonderoga to see what this is all about. We parked in the lot, got out and could already hear sounds from some displays outside the building. Although I'm not a Trekkie, I watched the show many times as I grew up. My first good experience was before I even started the guided tour, I was told the tour guide was going to carry a folding chair so if needed I could sit. I'm handicapped with a bad back and can't stand for long. The tour began with some explanations about the set, how it's constructed and all the work that went into putting this together. Then we were shown the infamous hallway, various rooms like sickbay, offices and bedrooms. A lot of the items on shelves were from the original set. When we got to the engine room I knew we were close to the "Control Room" and I started getting really excited. Throughout the tour, the guide explained all kinds of details concerning each room, then we could take as many photos as we wanted. Finally we reached the Control Room and it didn't let us down! There in the center was the Captains Chair! And I actually got to sit in it for pictures. William Shatner sat in that chair just 4 days prior and I could feel his presence in the chair.... I now understand why it's almost a full 5 star rating from YELP. The tour takes about an hour, there is a small gift shop and the staff are beyond excited to talk about the show and its secrets. If you're anywhere near Ticonderoga, or in the North East, take the time to enjoy a trip on the Enterprise and go where no man has gone before. Scotty will beam you up!

Did you know St. Albans is the site of the most northern Civil War engagement?…read more What a wonderful find!! My wife and I were twiddling aimlessly about Vermont peeping at Fall leaves when we stumbled upon the town square (Taylor Park) in St. Albans with this little historical museum on its high side. The museum wasn't open yet when we arrived so we lunched at the nearby seafood restaurant and returned at 1 p.m. when the docents opened it up. BECAUSE OF LIMITED OPERATING DATES AND HOURS, be sure to check their schedule online or call first: open late May thru early October only: 1 - 4 pm Tuesday - Friday and 10 am - 2 pm Saturday. Admission is very low-cost - $5/adult, $2/child (6 - 14) - and goes directly to the museum's preservation efforts. They don't have a bookstore but a bookshelf, per se, of mostly area-specific histories and essays who's proceeds help the same. There are two floors with several great rooms of exhibits to wander in and out of. One of our favorites was the room dedicated to war memorabilia from area residents spanning two centuries of American warfare, from pre-Civil to Indian to World War to current conflicts. There was everything from flags, medals, uniforms, boots, rifles and sabres, spent bullets and shells, patches, pictures from so many wars, even a small signal cannon. Other rooms had the consummate local estate donations, giant stuffy portraits, and momentos from and of the area's noteworthy. Most notably, however, are the rooms dedicated to the two major things that helped shape and characterize St. Albans' past: the area's railroad industry and the Confederate raid on St. Albans. St. Albans was a major part of the railroad networks in this neck of the country. One room has lots of great pieces of train memorabilia that will excite even the most well-versed of train aficionados! In October 1864, as the Federals gained momentum sweeping through the Southern states, 21 Confederate calvarymen entered Vermont from Canada with two objectives: secure a cash infusion to buoy ailing monetary reserves in the South's war-torn coffers and attempt to skirmish the Federal troop masses in the South into breaking off their invasion and withdrawing to protect their northern borders. Some believe the raiders had further hoped that Federal pursuers chasing them into Canada would trigger the Canadians to enter the war in support of the Confederate States of America which Canada already loosely recognized. Known today as St. Albans Raid, it was a completely one-sided action in which townspeople were held hostage, many forced to pledge allegiance to the South, while several banks were robbed. In the end, one townsperson was killed and the raiders fled back into Canada. Canada refused U.S. demands to extradite them back to the United States on the grounds that they were soldier combatants, not criminals - again, due in part to that loose acknowledgement of the CSA. Newspaper articles, pictures, memorabilia, and a very large-scale diarama of the city and the entire event including the aftermath really teaches you about the Civil War's most northern engagement! And while most of the structures which stood witness to this 1864 event are gone now, few remain including one of the banks and Taylor Park itself. Museum docents are more than happy to point you on your way around the town and just outside along the town square if you want to see all the sites in person. 5-stars for the great job these dedicated volunteers do for this small community and visitors like us! So if you're visiting this part of Vermont, add St. Albans to your itinerary for lunch and an hour at St. Albans Historical Society!

I'm very happy that Saint Albans has such a great place to share its and Vermont's history. Even…read morebetter, it's in a historic building of its own (used to be the school) and has restored one of the classrooms inside. Each room has a piece of historic flavor: medicine, military, crafts and home life, railroad, etc. All are nicely laid out and presented with plenty of written history to peruse. I was a bit disappointed to see a few displays empty, some without working electronics and we had to ask the staff to start the train for the kids at the railroad area. It should take up a good portion of your day to walk through the entire collection. Bring the kids!