Northeast Kingdom

The Northeast Kingdom is Vermont's largest region yet the most sparsely populated, having 10% of the state's population. While the Kingdom is an outdoor person's paradise, it has attractions for the entire family. Historical adventures, maple syrup, and friendly villages and towns in photographic settings. Here one will find soft, rolling hills to rugged mountains, glacial lakes to swift-running rivers, sixteen covered bridges, two topnotch ski mountains( Jay Peak and Burke Mountain),wild life from black bears, deer, and moose to many species of birds including the peregrine falcon. And, of course, the magnificent splendor of fall foliage and in the spring, maple syruping. Things to See and Do Attractions Athenean Hall in the Brownington District, also designed and built by the Rev. Twilight. Built as a dormitory for the Orleans County Grammar School, the only high school in a two county area at the time. Today it is one of the best preserved institutional buildings of its time in the U.S. Samuel Read Hall House in the Brownington District was built in 1831 and was the home of Samuel Read Hall for two decades. He was the founder of the first teacher's training school in the U.S. and authored the first teacher's training manual. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum & Art Gallery was donated to the town of St. Johnsbury in 1871 by the Fairbanks Family.. Two years later, the Fairbanks added a small art gallery which is now the oldest art gallery in its original form in the U.S. The Anthenaeum is available to all. Visitors are welcome and tours are available as are audiocassettes for self-guided tours. Fee for guided tours. Covered Bridges Green Bank Hollow covered bridge is located in Danville, VT (Caledonia County). This bridge was built in 1886 and crosses Joes Brook. Located on Green Bank Hollow Road, approximately 2.5 miles south of Route 2. Orne covered bridge is located in Irasburg, VT (Orleans County). This bridge was rebuilt in 2000 (original construction in 1881). Spans the Black River on Heermansmith Farm Road near Coventry Village. Schoolhouse covered bridge is located in Lyndon, VT (Caledonia County). Built in 1879, this bridge spans the South Branch of the Passumpsic River. Located on South Wheelock Branch Road, west off of Route 5. Miller's Run (or Bradley) covered bridge is located in Lyndon, VT (Caledonia County). This bridge was built in 1878 and restored in 1995. Crossing Miller's Run, the bridge is located on Route 122. This is the only covered bridge in Vermont still in active use as part of the State highway program. Chamberlin (or Whitcomb) covered bridge is located in Lyndon, VT (Caledonia County). Built in 1881 and spanning the South Branch of the Passumpsic River, this bridge is located at York Street and Miller Road, off of Route 5. Randall (or Burrington) covered bridge is located in Lyndon, VT (Caledonia County). Build date is unknown. The bridge spans the East Branch of the Passumpsic River and is adjacent to Old Burrington Road off of Route 114 north of Lyndonville. River Road, School or Upper covered bridge is located in Troy, VT (Orleans County). Build data unknown. Spans the Mississquoi River on Big Falls Road. Locations Burke is an uncluttered, peaceful town, but the Burke area is full of country stores, craft shops, galleries and museums to visit and browse in. The Burke area is a four-season recreation spot without the crowds and expense. Burke Mountain offers alpine skiing and groomed cross-country skiing. Hiking, trekking, and mountain bike trails dot the landscape. Fishing,boating and swimming abound in clear lakes and rivers. And autumn brings the famed Vermont foliage display. Grab a rocking chair at a friendly B&B and gaze at Nature at its best. Museums Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury is northern New England's premiere museum of natural history. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is accredited by the American Association of Museums. St. Johnsbury's industrialist and amateur naturalist Franklin Fairbanks founded the museum in 1889 and the doors opened in 1891. The Fairbanks Family invented and manufactured the world's first platform scale. Old Stone House Museum in Brownington is one of six early 19th-century buildings in the Brownington Historic District. It was designed and built in the 1830's by a schoolmaster believed to be America's first African American college graduate and first African American legislator, the Reverend Alexander Twilight. Exhibits include furniture, decorative and folk art, and other period artifacts. Sugarmill Farm Maple Museum in Barton; the Sugarmill Farm's organic maple syrup is used in the manufacture of Ben & Jerry's maple walnut ice cream. Store, tours, sugarhouse, and maple museum exhibiting the process of making maple syrup. Science & Nature Related The Great Vermont Maze & Science Center in Danville opened in the summer of 2000. Each year a new maze design is created in the corn field, taking a visitor 45 minutes to maybe 2 hours to find their way out. And, yes, there are emergency exits and information posts so one can spend what time they wish in the maze. Here also, visitors have the opportunity to learn how farm animals communicate and what their different sounds mean. Great fun for the entire family.

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