Ethan Allen Homestead Museum and Historic Site — Attraction in Burlington

I visited from England a couple of weeks ago. I have spent a lot of time in Vermont over the years, as my wife's family live in South Burlington. However, this was our first visit to the museum, I would highly recommend a visit to anyone interested in the social, cultural and political foundations of this corner of New England. A lot of museums can feel like cathedrals to the past and have a suffocating sense of self importance. Relics that can't be touched and an intimidating academic presentation. However, the Ethan Allen homestead is such an inviting and relaxed place. Every member of staff (a lot of whom are volunteers) was engaging and keen to divulge the story of the place with such pride. The video history and interactive dressing up/reenactment area were big hits with the family and made the experience relevant for my young children who able to get a better context for what they heard on the guided tour. I want to give special mention to our tour guide, Mike. He was so enthusiastic about the area and the history. He was incredibly engaging and a real force of energy. So often tours can be wordy, dry affairs, but Mike's fun and expertise drew you in and made everyone relaxed enough to join in and ask questions. The museum does a great job at highlighting the importance of women in this story. The fantastically named Frances Montressor Brush Buchanan Allen Penniman was typical of her gender in that she was disenfranchised in a male run world. However, quite rightly the museum puts her front and centre. This is very much her story. Speaking of disenfranchisement, the museum does not shy away from the Native American story. The Abenaki tribe and their claim to this land are spoken about with prominence and compassion, giving a broader context to the land grants and state disputed 'land grabs' of those early nation days. I would highly recommend a visit to this wonderful museum to learn about Ethan and Fanny and their impact on Vermont, New England and ultimately...

Went here with my parents as part of our Vermont Vacation on August 27th 2023. We walked in and checked 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...

I wish I would have discovered the excellent programming that occurs at Ethan Allen Homestead before I retired last year. However, having said that, I sure am glad that, quite by accident, I read about a lecture occurring there on a Sunday afternoon in my local newspaper, the Colchester Sun. Recently, Ethan Allen Homestead hosted Christopher Wren, a former New York times editor and journalist, who talked about his book on Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. Not long after that a series started describing the history of the Abenaki people in the region; it continues, one day a month, for four months. Yesterday, we listened as a professor from the University of Vermont talked about his books on the travails of slaves taken to the Maritime provinces by the Loyalists who fled our country immediately after the revolutionary war. Go to their website and you can find out how to get on their mailing list and you'll receive email notifications about what the next lectures are going to be about and you can also look at their calendar of events. Sadly, I have to admit I've never actually toured the homestead. I've only gone into the lecture hall in the store. This summer when the homestead is open again to the public I'll be sure to tour the...