This family friendly museum in Woodstock, VT, welcomes visitors to the Vermont of 1890. Consisting of a working dairy farm, farmhouse, and a large exhibit space housing farm equipment, artifacts, oral histories and photographs, the museum depicts family life on a busy farm.
The Billings Farm was established in 1871 by Frederick Billings, a native Vermonter who became known for his work as a conservationist and a pioneer of reforestation and scientific farm management. His 270 acre dairy farm became a model, and continues today with a prize winning herd of Jerseys. Now one of the country's premier agricultural museums, visitors can experience 19th-century life on a Vermont farm. The 1890 Victorian-style farmhouse, with its creamery and ice house, has been restored. Children will enjoy watching the afternoon milking of the cows and the seasonal wagon rides.
What surprised me most was learning that during the late 19th century, the surrounding land was almost completely devoid of trees due to lumbering. This museum was a great discovery.
Plan to leave time to visit the adjacent Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historic Park. Operated by the National Park Service, the museum tells the story of land stewardship and conservation. I visited mid-week, and was fortunate enough to have a private tour by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic park ranger. In addition to the house, the property features gardens, and beautiful grounds. Follow the carriage roads up to the Pogue, a beautiful mountain pond, and you may be rewarded with a glimpse of wild life.
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