Billings Farm & Museum — Attraction in Woodstock

A Heartwarming, Lush Journey Through Time at Billings Farm & Museum!

We had unforgettable visit to the Billings Farm & Museum in charming Woodstock—it truly deserves every star and then some! From the moment we stepped onto this vibrant living history farm just a scenic stroll from the village center we knew we were in for something extraordinary .

We began in the welcoming Visitor Center, where a thoughtful, award-nominated 32-minute film, A Place in the Land, unfolds the stirring 150-year legacy of stewardship—from pioneering conservationist George Perkins Marsh, to visionary reformer Frederick Billings, and the generous Laurance and Mary Rockefeller, who entrusted the estate to the public  . The film was such a poignant and lyrical introduction—infused with themes of conservation, stewardship, and a profound sense of place—setting the perfect tone for our immersive day .

Venturing next into the restored 1890 Farm Manager’s House, we felt transported back in time. The exhibits brimming with artifacts, oral histories, and photographs brilliantly bring to life the rhythm of rural Vermont farm life. We were so moved by the care taken to preserve and share the Billings family’s story  .

One of our favorite highlights? Touring the working farmhouse where “Aiken” lived—though Aiken isn’t mentioned in available sources, the authenticity of the space, combined with seeing where real-life Jersey cows are milked, gave us such a warm, intimate peek into daily farm life. It was hands-on, heartfelt, and brimming with genuine farmstead charm.

Speaking of Jersey cows, the farm’s award-winning herd is something to behold. Interacting with them felt both educational and endlessly delightful—especially for our little ones (and us big kids at heart)  .

To top it all off? Wilcox local ice cream at the Dairy Bar was the best kind of sweet finish—creamy, flavorful, and simply local love in a cone. Paired with sunshine and pastoral views, what could be more perfect?

And let’s not forget the convenience and comfort all around: staying at the Red Clover Inn, you’re just a stone’s throw from this living, breathing piece of Vermont history. Billings Farm & Museum isn’t just a place to visit—it’s an immersive experience that warms your soul, nourishes curiosity, and reminds you of the lasting impact of thoughtful land...

This farm is always a lot of fun to come to, I've been here twice. There's a lot to do here -- you can easily spend several hours. The highlight for me is always the animals, the museum, and the historical farm manager's house. For the time period they were living in, and even now, the house is incredibly luxurious. They had hot and cold running water and a flushing toilet. No farm manager in VT has that at the time, and these amenities were mostly for the ultra rich, like the Newport Mansions.

The animals are all incredibly well taken care of and always look healthy. They're also absolutely beautiful. I am particularly fond of the draft horses and the Jersey cows. They're not from New Jersey, but rather the Isle of Jersey. Their milk is very rich in milk fat and is excellent for creating butter. If you're able to go for their butter churning demonstration, do go! You get to try some of the butter and the buttermilk (if you so choose) at the end. Both products were delicious.

In the museum there is a rotating exhibit. Once it was quilts, currently (September 2023) it is female farmers in Vermont. The photos are taken by a gay Puerto Rican, which I thought was a nice extra dose of representation.

In the non-rotational area, you get to walk through farming history and how it developed for everything from planting corn to cutting ice. There's also a cute little scavenger hunt for stuffed cows hidden in the exhibits and a short movie on how ice was cut in Maine in the 1940s. Near the entrance there is also a film but I haven't seen that yet.

Lastly, they have a food truck and an ice cream stand near the renovated ice house.

I highly recommend checking...

Far too much money for what it is. We are grateful for the preservation of dairy farms in Vermont-- that is an important part of the state's history and is part of what we hoped to see. We are not sure if this is what they are doing here, because the organization makes no attempt to clarify their mission. Upon arrival, we were asked for $38 for two adults. We then discovered that half of the property was closed and under construction. Very little to see... some minor exhibits were available. Places to walk were corded off. All the animals were inside, even on a comfortable spring day. The areas that had animals were blocked, even though it appeared like what would be a logical access point to view them, and even though there was no construction happening in those areas. For such a large piece of property, the areas where visitors could walk were extremely cramped, almost to the point of being non-existent. There was a noticable absence of any docent around to share the history of the property. No discount even if there is only one hour until closing time. Shame on them: this is clearly a tourist trap and poor representation of true Vermont dairy heritage. Preservation of Vermont's dairy history is very important! It was a huge part of what Vermont was and it is now sadly disappearing. We found no value here. There are genuine dairy farms across the state that would love visitors no doubt, and that provide a richer experience. I hope our hard earned money will go to good use here, but we are skeptical. People work hard for their living and travel here on their precious days off. Taking this away from a family for a sub par product is highly...