It's
getting tougher to find traces of Vermont's rural heritage outside
of fading memories and the imagination, but the Billings Farm &
Museum in Woodstock makes it easier. This farm and museum has been
serving the public for over 20 years as an operating dairy farm and
a museum dedicated to telling the story of Vermont's rural heritage.
Visitors can experience real farm work first-hand including care of
the dairy cows, sheep, horses, oxen, and chickens, feed production,
and crop rotation as well as a wide range of exhibits, activities
and programs that depict life on the farm dating back more than 100
years. Exhibits include Dairying, Planting and the Harvest, Maple
Sugaring, Ice Cutting and more. The grounds include a number of buildings,
including a furnished and restored 1890 Farm House (pictured above,
it contains a creamery, laundry, ice house, etc.), a gift shop, and
dairy bar (try the Farm Picnic lunch of cheese, crackers, and fruit).
The farm was established in 1871 by Frederick Billings, a
lawyer, conservationist, pioneer in reforestation and scientific
farm management, and railroad builder. Billings imported his
cattle from the Isle of Jersey, and the farm is still considered
to be one of the finest Jersey farms in America. Special events
occur throughout the year (see their calendar onsite) and
include Sheep Shearing Weekend (May), Old Vermont 4th (July),
Quilt Exhibition (August-September), Pumpkin Day (October),
and many more. Billings is particularly well-suited for family
visits, with a variety of programs available for different
age groups.
The Billings Farm & Museum is open daily May 1 - Oct.
31, 10 AM to 5 PM, as well as winter holiday weekends and
their special sleigh ride weekends. Admission is $9.50 for
adults, $8.50 for those over 65, $7.50 for ages 13-17, $5.00
for ages 5-12, $2.50 for ages 3-4. After visiting the Farm
and Museum, be sure to stop by their operating partner, the
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.
Billings
Farm & Museum
Route 12 and River Road
P.O. Box 489
Woodstock VT 05091-0489
1-802-457-2355
It's
getting tougher to find traces of Vermont's rural heritage outside
of fading memories and the imagination, but the Billings Farm &
Museum in Woodstock makes it easier. This farm and museum has been
serving the public for over 20 years as an operating dairy farm and
a museum dedicated to telling the story of Vermont's rural heritage.
Visitors can experience real farm work first-hand including care of
the dairy cows, sheep, horses, oxen, and chickens, feed production,
and crop rotation as well as a wide range of exhibits, activities
and programs that depict life on the farm dating back more than 100
years. Exhibits include Dairying, Planting and the Harvest, Maple
Sugaring, Ice Cutting and more. The grounds include a number of buildings,
including a furnished and restored 1890 Farm House (pictured above,
it contains a creamery, laundry, ice house, etc.), a gift shop, and
dairy bar (try the Farm Picnic lunch of cheese, crackers, and fruit).