Finishing Vermont

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, Manchester, VT -

Hildene was built in 1905 as the summer home for Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's only child to live to maturity.

Robert Lincoln, who became president and chairman of the Pullman Co., was so impressed by the beauty of the Manchester area when he visited with his mother and brother Tad in 1863 that he returned years later to build the estate.

A couple interesting things about the house:  Robert had an Aeolian organ built for the house so during the construction the 1,000 organ pipes were built into the walls at the top of the stairs.  The organ still plays and you can hear as you tour the house.

The other interesting thing is the front lawn. There are bricks in the grass that show the exact size of Abraham Lincoln's log cabin.

I was also excited to see Abe's stovepipe hat!

Bennington, Vermont -

Hemmings Sunoco Filling Station displays vintage automobiles and automobile memorabilia in a old-fashioned, full-service gas station.

Bennington Battle Monument - commemorates the Revolutionary War battle of August 16, 1777, between British General John Burgoyne's forces and a group of Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts volunteers led by General John Stark.

The stone obelisk, when completed in 1889 was the tallest battle monument in the world.  At 306 feet, it is still the tallest structure in Vermont.