The American Precision Museum is housed in a brick building dating from 1846, originally built as the Robbins & Lawrence Armory. The Robbins & Lawrence Armory is designated a National Historic Landmark. Exhibits include machine tools, metrological tools and other precision instruments. In this way, the building itself is also part of the museum’s history. Visitors who want hands-on experience with the exhibits can tinker and develop new ideas in the Learning Lab.
Agriculture and the History of Conservation
The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park offers a different perspective on the relationship with the land. Located in Windsor County, it focuses on the history of conservation and changes in land management in the United States. At Billings Farm & Museum, Vermont’s rural history, a working dairy farm and a living museum come together. These themes span the use of land in a broader historical context and agriculture as a living subject. Visitors interested in history will encounter different questions here than in a technical collection.
Historic Buildings and Living Art
In Windsor, a self-guided tour takes in more than 40 historic buildings. Their number draws attention to the town’s built heritage rather than focusing on just one building. Windsor’s Artisan’s Park and the shops on Main Street offer another way to experience the town: visitors can watch one-of-a-kind pieces being made and meet artists. Historic buildings and contemporary artistic work thus offer distinct discoveries side by side.
Plymouth Notch is the birthplace and childhood home of Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president of the United States. Before visiting, check whether preservation work may result in closures. The Calvin Coolidge exhibit also explores a distinctive Vermont subject: it includes an exhibit on cheesemaking, focusing on the characteristically granular Plymouth Cheese.
By the Lake and on the Trails
Camp Plymouth State Park is on the east shore of Echo Lake in Plymouth, in Windsor County. It has a sandy beach with a swimming area, which may operate seasonally. The Vista Trail is a one-mile, moderate out-and-back hike through a white pine forest. Visitors can also pan for gold in Buffalo Brook for personal enjoyment. If you plan to do so, check the current rules beforehand.
At Mount Ascutney, the 3.7-mile parkway leads to a parking area at an elevation of 2,800 feet. From there, a hike of just under a mile leads to the summit. Check road and trail conditions before setting out. The Pinnacle Trail in Wilgus State Park offers a different route: it is a one-mile loop that reaches an elevation of 628 feet; conditions may vary. The figures describe different things: at Mount Ascutney, just under a mile is the hike from the parking area to the summit, while for the Pinnacle Trail, one mile is the length of the entire loop. The elevation figures also refer to different points: 2,800 feet is the elevation of the parking area, while 628 feet is the elevation reached on the Pinnacle Trail.
Gifford Woods State Park is near the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail and is a popular stop for hikers. The Quechee Gorge Trail offers a different experience: it leads to the gorge and provides views along the way. The trails described here therefore differ both in their character and their destination.
Discover more destinations: Ludlow, Windsor, Brownsville, Hartland, Hartford, Weathersfield, Woodstock, Plymouth, Barnard, Bridgewater, Cavendish.
View the broader travel guide: Vermont.
