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September 09, 2016 Guides » BTV Magazine

Museum Guide: Venues That Entertain and Educate

By Seven Days Staff

Published September 9, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. | Updated September 25, 2016 at 10:49 a.m.

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Interested in Revolutionary War history? Contemporary art? How about petting baby lambs on a farm? Check, check and check: Museums in and around Burlington have got you covered. Here are some options for whiling away the hours, rain or shine.

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum

1 Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington, ethanallenhomestead.org

The namesake of this small museum led the so-called Green Mountain Boys in the Revolutionary War, famously capturing Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point from the British. His continued efforts helped establish Vermont's independence as a young nation struggled to shape itself. The general's modest house overlooking the Winooski River gives visitors a glimpse of what life on the northern frontier was like at the time. Some of Allen's philosophical writings are on view, along with archaeological and other exhibits. Outside, the homestead offers easy walking trails.

Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through October 31; last tour begins at 3:30 p.m. $5-8; free for children under 4.

Birds of Vermont Museum

900 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington, birdsofvermont.org

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File: Oliver Parini

Birders and avian aficionados flock to this small rural museum, whose mission is to educate, nurture an appreciation for nature, and study birds and their habitats. Don't miss the 500 realistic bird carvings, most of them created by the late museum founder Robert Spear, representing 259 species. In addition, you can learn a new birdcall, explore changing exhibits and try your hand at woodcarving. Picnic tables and walking paths await outdoors.

Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through October 31; open by appointment starting November 1. $3.50-7.

ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

1 College St., Burlington, echovermont.org

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Named for U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, this waterfront museum is devoted to the ecology, culture, history and opportunities for stewardship of Lake Champlain. Here, the "sixth Great Lake" inspires fascinating educational exhibits and fun interactive activities for all ages. An aquarium houses native fish, frogs, turtles and other creatures, and a National Geographic theater screens 2D and 3D films daily. Hungry? Sit down for a healthy, locally sourced lunch at the Sugarsnap Café.

Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; closed on Thanksgiving. $11.50-14.50; free for kids under 2.

Shelburne Farms

1611 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, shelburnefarms.org

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courtesy of Marshall webb

Shelburne Farms is, in fact, not a museum. The 19th-century estate of Dr. William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb is a nonprofit devoted to conservation education; its 1,400 acres encompass a working farm and cheesemaking operation, and spectacular scenery. The property — designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. — includes 10 miles of easy walking trails. A tractor-pulled cart also provides frequent tours. In the Children's Farmyard, kids can watch a chicken parade, milk a cow and help feed the animals.

Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through October 16; after that date, walking trails are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, weather permitting. $5-8; free for children under 3.

Robert Hull Fleming Museum of Art

61 Colchester Ave., Burlington, flemingmuseum.org

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The art museum of the University of Vermont, established in 1931, holds an eclectic collection of some 25,000 art and anthropological objects from around the world, with a particular focus on Vermont. In addition, the Fleming mounts nine special temporary exhibits throughout the year. These range from pop-art prints by the likes of Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns and Roy Lichtenstein to contemporary Tibetan artworks to a retrospective of drawings by Vermont's cartoonist laureate, Edward Koren.

Hours vary by season; check website for details and parking instructions. $3-5.

Shelburne Museum

6000 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, shelburnemuseum.org

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This utterly unique collection of art and Americana was founded in 1947 by Electra Havemeyer Webb. These days the museum consists of 38 buildings — 25 of them historic — scattered around an expansive property with many gardens. Visitors can get a glimpse into 18th- and 19th-century life in a lighthouse, a one-room schoolhouse, a jail, an iconic round barn and even a 220-foot steamboat. These structures and others house vast collections including quilts, folk art, impressionist paintings and circus artifacts.

Full grounds open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through October 31. $12-24; free for children under 5; discounts for seniors, families and Vermont residents. Select buildings open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting November 1. $5-10; free for children under 5.

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L'histoire de la guerre d'indépendance des États-Unis vous passionne? L'art contemporain? Vous aimeriez caresser des petits agneaux de la saison dans une ferme? Les musées de Burlington et de la région sauront satisfaire tous vos intérêts. Voici quelques options à envisager, beau temps, mauvais temps.