Vermont

Visits to Vermont’s state-owned historic sites reach 22-year high – VTDigger

Published

1 year ago

December 5, 2024

Visits to Vermont’s state-owned historic sites reach 22-year high – VTDigger

The Bennington Battle Monument. Photo via Adobe Stock

A group of Vermont historic sites owned and operated by the state had more than 80,000 visitors during the 2024 season — the most traffic the sites have seen since 2002.

“These sites are a good way to explore our beautiful state and I encourage everyone to visit them and learn more about what makes Vermont such a special place,” Gov. Phil Scott said in a Tuesday press release from the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development.

The 80,678 visitors from May to October brought in a total of $512,053 in admission fees and gift store purchases at six of the historic sites. The agency estimates that approximately 65% to 70% of the visitors were Vermonters, according to Christine Hinkel Ianni, communications director for the agency.

When asked why this year was so popular, Hinkel Ianni said via email that “there is a desire to be outside and explore again after Covid and flooding.”

Although 2024 was a successful year, the all-time record occurred in 1998 with 93,365 visitors. However, in 1998, 12 historic sites in the state were open to the public, compared with today’s nine, of which only seven were open for the 2024 season, according to the release.

The state-owned historic sites open to the public this year were the Bennington Battle Monument, Chimney Point in Addison, the Hubbardton Battlefield, Mount Independence in Orwell, President Calvin Coolidge’s childhood home in Plymouth Notch, President Chester A. Arthur’s assumed birthplace in Fairfield and Sen. Justin Morrill’s home in Strafford.

The most visited sites this year were the Bennington Battle Monument, which saw 39,636 visitors, and the President Calvin Coolidge site, which had 25,014 visitors, according to Hinkel Ianni.

Two other historic sites — Old Constitution House in Windsor and Eureka Schoolhouse in Springfield — closed during the Covid-19 pandemic and remained closed during the 2024 season. The Old Constitution House is set to reopen in 2027, and the Eureka Schoolhouse could open as early as 2025, according to the release.

“We are thrilled with this year’s attendance and sales,” the state’s Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann said in the release. “We have hard-working, dedicated staff who are passionate about sharing Vermont’s story with our visitors and that is reflected in the success of the 2024 season.”

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Related Topics:Featured historic preservation Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development

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Vermont

Wrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI

Published

4 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Wrong-way driver stopped on I-89, charged with DUI

BOLTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A wrong-way driver was safely stopped on Interstate 89 overnight Sunday.

Vermont State Police say just before 12:30 a.m., they stopped the car near marker 77, near Bolton.

The driver, Denise Lear, 60, of Revere, was charged with driving under the influence and gross negligent operation.

Lear is expected in court Monday.

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Vermont

Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes

Published

16 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Women’s Lacrosse Bested in Burlington by Vermont – University at Albany Great Danes

Score: UAlbany 4, Vermont 14

Location: Virtue Field | Burlington, Vt.

Records: UAlbany (10-5, 5-1 America East) | Vermont (8-6, 4-1 America East)

Short Story: UAlbany women’s lacrosse fell to the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday afternoon.

Key Stats

Grace Cincebox recorded a total of 14 saves with 13 goals allowed for a .565 save percentage.

Ravan Marsell led the Great Danes with two points on one goal and one assist.

Four different UAlbany players scored in the contest.

Reggie Williams was the team’s leader with three ground balls.

Delilah Mile caused a team high three turnovers.

How It Happened

The Catamounts came out of the gates hard and heavy, scoring all three goals between both sides in the first quarter.

Vermont would take an 8-0 lead in the second quarter before Amanda Williamson found the back of the net on a women-down goal to put the Great Danes on the board and make it 8-1.

The Great Danes would allow one more goal in the first half to trail 9-1 after 30-minutes of play.

Grace Cincebox would enter the half with 10 saves.

Riley Forthofer started the Great Danes off in the second half to make it a 9-2 game, before Vermont put up three more goals to take a 12-2 lead entering the final quarter of play.

Mya Carroll and Ravan Marsell both scored on back-to-back free-position goals to make it a 12-4 game.

The Catamounts finished the game with two more goals to take the win 14-4.

Up Next
The Great Danes will next have a bye week and wait to see the outcome of next week’s Vermont vs UMass Lowell game to see who will host the America East Tournament.

Social Central: Stay up to date with UAlbany women’s lacrosse by following the team on Instagram (@UAlbanyWLax), Facebook (UAlbany Women’s Lacrosse), and X (@UAlbanyWLax) for all of the latest news and highlights throughout the year.

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Vermont

Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Vermont lands two cities in America’s top 15 happiest list

Is creativity the missing key to better health?

Research suggests creative activities like art, music and crafts may benefit mental health as much as other key health habits.

Here’s another reason Vermont is the best New England state: It’s home to one of the top 5 happiest cities in the United States.

Plus, it has another within the top 15.

Massachusetts, on the other hand, doesn’t even break the top 50. Nor, does Connecticut or Rhode Island.

The personal finance website analyzed 182 of the largest cities in the country, and ranked Boston 63rd overall. Although the city is home to some of the nation’s top universities, high-ranking hospitals, and well-regarded companies, it didn’t break the top 50.

To get the rankings, WalletHub compared the cities using 29 metrics, including life-satisfaction index, depression rate, poverty rate, job security, and acres of parkland per 1,000 residents. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, and cities were assigned an overall happiness score.

Here’s a look at how the cities ranked.

South Burlington is No. 4 happiest city, Burlington is No. 11

South Burlington came on top for Vermont in WalletHub’s list of the happiest cities in the United States, ranking at No. 4. In scored very high for emotional and physical well-being coming in at the No. 4 spot, which made up for coming in No. 48 for community and environment. It was No. 9 for income and employment ranking. That gave it a total happiness of score of 70.15

Burlington wasn’t far behind at all, taking the No. 11 spot on the list and a happiness score of 67.54. It’s highest score was for income and employment ranking where it came second. It ranked No. 13 for community and environment and No. 21 for emotional and physical well-being.