Remember When: Sharing Memories
Join us for an informal gathering to share conversation, stories, and memories while looking at historic photos. Refreshments served. All are welcome.
Losers of the American Revolution
Not all Americans found themselves benefitting from the American Revolution. Many Americans who had remained loyal to the King ended up losing their homes and suffering incredible alienation because of their beliefs.
Virtual Program - Paddling Through Time: The Long History of Canoes in New England
Learn about early Native American canoes and what they reveal about the Indigenous People who lived in New England.
Basket-Making Workshop
Join us for a basket-making workshop in which you will make a berry basket.
Program “A New Nation, Conceived in Liberty…”: Enlightenment Idealism and the Reality of the Modern World
In April, the Woodstock History Center and Norman Williams Library will co-host a four-part history lecture series. The first program in this series will feature a lecture by Professor Ron Miller entitled “A New Nation, Conceived in Liberty.”
Ira Allen and the Green Mountain Frontier
Learn more about Ira Allen and the Green Mountain frontier in a lecture presented by Dr. Kevin Graffagnino.
"The Great Contradiction: The Tragic Side of American Founding" with Professor Joe Ellis
PART THREE OF A FOUR-PART LECTURE SERIES
Learn more about the contradictions between the ideals espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the reality of two of its failures.
Program: How the Working Class Home Became Modern
Learn more about the forces that led to the modernization of working class homes in the 20th century.
The Great Bennington Battle and Vermont
Learn more about the Great Bennington Battle in Vermont from renowned historian Howard Coffin.
Program: Zadock Thompson and the Story of Vermont
Learn more about Zadock Thompson, who was raised in North Bridgewater, Vermont, and went on to become Vermont’s leading naturalist.
Remember When: Chance to Chat & Share Stories of the Past Over Cider & Doughnuts
Join us for a chance to share stories over cider and doughnuts.
10th Annual Old-Time Fair
Join us for our 10th Annual Old-Time Fair. As with past years, offerings will include a magic show, food, games, crafts, and an incredible token-exchange prize table. Once again, admission, games, and food are all just a quarter each.
Sampler & Embroidery ID Day at the Woodstock History Center
Do you own an antique sampler or embroidery made before 1900? If yes, please share your piece of history with us.
Museum Opening Day
The Woodstock History Center will kick off the 2025 museum season with two new exhibits -That’s a Good Question and a Sampler Driving Tour. Past exhibits, including The Wonder Room, Hindsight 20/20, and A Child’s Life, will also be open to the public.
Lafayette: Farewell Tour in Woodstock
Come celebrate the bicentennial of this visit at the Woodstock History Center with a Lafayette re-enactor, crafts, historically-inspired treats, a self-guided walking tour that traces Lafayette’s visit to Woodstock, and more.
Zoom Program: A Dramatic Constitution
While the United States Constitution is small in size, it is large enough to support our most dramatic disagreements. Beginning with the clash between slave states and free states, we have staged all of our controversies on the Articles and Amendments. Even during the Civil War, the Constitution held.
Lafayette: The Story Behind the Legend
Lafayette was one of the greatest celebrities of his day. Come learn about the 19-year-old French aristocrat who fought for America’s independence, and his tour nearly fifty years later that drew huge crowds.
Virtual Program: The Beginner's Guide to Cemetery Sleuthing
This program will highlight how to unravel the history that can be found in cemeteries.
Woodstock & Vermont Trivia Game
Join us for a fun, interactive learning experience as we play Woodstock/Vermont trivia. Low-key, non-competitive game (based on the honor system where you score your own answer sheet). Emphasis is on learning rather than on winning; however, a prize will be awarded to the top scorer.
Character: Unforgettable People of Woodstock
Join us to view a slideshow of a few of Woodstock’s many unforgettable people. This session will not be a formal lecture, but rather an informal session - replete with refreshments and a chance to share stories and socialize with other members of our community.
Free!
Virtual Program: New England Ice Harvesting
Learn about early ice harvesting in New England.
Basket-Making Workshop for All Levels of Basket Makers
Dona Nazarenko of Country Spirit Baskets will lead a workshop on how to make a “My Daily Bread, Biscuit, and Muffin Basket.” At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have a basket to take home. $25.00 materials fee. ADVANCED REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Virtual Program: Digging Into Native History in Northern New England
Virtual Program: Abenaki history has been reduced to near-invisibility as a result of conquest, a conquering culture that placed little value on the Indian experience, and a strategy of self-preservation that required many Abenaki to go "underground," concealing their true identities for generations to avoid discrimination and persecution. Robert Goodby reveals archaeological evidence that shows their deep presence here, inches below the earth's surface.
Halloween Party - Pre-K to Grade 3
Join us for a Halloween Party for Pre-K to 3rd Graders. Activities include: crafts, games, pumpkin decorating, snacks, and more. Pre-registration is required.
Halloween Party - Pre-K to Grade 3
Join us for a Halloween Party for Pre-K to 3rd Graders. Activities include: crafts, games, pumpkin decorating, snacks, and more. Pre-registration is required.
Mud Dance: At Home in the Stream
After the 2023 flood waters receded from the banks of the Ottauquechee, Judith Taylor explored the ruined fields along the river and what had been the Ottauquechee River Trail covered with debris. From the mud and rubble, Judith unearthed rusted artifacts and fragments of glass, pottery, wood and brick, with which she constructed sculptures that bear witness to the impact of the flood.
Old-Time Fair
Come enjoy some family fun at the Woodstock History Center’s Old-Time Fair. Activities will include games, balloon animals, face painting, crafts, and more. Activities are geared toward pre-school and elementary-age children.
The Royalton Raid Revisited: The Sleeping Historian on Rt. 14
In this program, Dr. Jonathan Beecher Field will discuss where the language on the Royalton Raid historical marker comes from, other ways we might tell this story, and why it matters.
Walking Tour: East End of River Steet
Join us for a walking tour and learn about River Street’s fascinating history.
Walking Tour: East End of River Steet
Join us for a walking tour and learn about River Street’s fascinating history. Advanced registration is required.
Exhibit Opening Reception
By invitation only:
The Woodstock History Center invites you to join us at our opening of the exhibit, The Wonder Room. Visitors to our Canaday Gallery will find a new, more expansive installation of two hundred years of notable art and craft objects that showcase the breadth of our collection as well as other privately held objects. There will be over 50 artists and craftspeople highlighted in the exhibition which will be open for our 2024 and 2025 tour seasons.
The reception will begin with presentations by Matthew Powers, Executive Director of the Woodstock History Center, and Elise Brunelle, Executive Director of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. They will be discussing the exhibit and the 90th anniversary of the VSO. A small ensemble performance by members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra will follow.
We hope that you join us in celebrating art and craft in the Woodstock area and the many opportunities that it offers for our community.
Grant support provided by:
This exhibit and opening reception is sponsored by:
A Tale of Ancient Volcanoes and Oceans
Much of the bedrock foundation of Vermont was formed hundreds of millions of years ago when Vermont was covered by an ocean, and volcanoes erupted in spectacular fashion on islands in that ocean. Dr. Ray Coish will discuss this ancient history and answer any other burning geological questions you may have.
Documentary: Life in Windsor County
Join us for a showing of the documentary Life in Windsor County. This film was created by Johnson State College students, Professor Bill Doyle, and Vince Franke of Peregrine Productions, LLC. It features over 200 historic images and covers topics ranging from Windsor County’s earliest settlers to stories of what life was like in the early 1900s.
Woodstock Through the Cinematographer's Lens
Join us to see clips and discuss some of the movies and advertisements that were filmed in the Woodstock area.
Historic Slideshow: From the Old Woolen Mill to Luke's House
Join us for a slideshow of rarely-seen historic images. This slideshow will begin with photos of the Old Woolen Mill (present-day Recreation Center) and then lead guests over Rose Hill, past the King Farm and cemeteries, to Lute Raymond's house on "the Flats."
Historic Photos & Munchies: Unforgettable People of Woodstock
Join us to view a slideshow of a few of Woodstock’s many unforgettable people.
Holiday Ornament Workshop
Come make festive holiday ornaments out of metal, as well as an old-fashioned holiday “cracker.”
Victorian-Style Ornament Workshop
Come make a Victorian-style ornament with fabric, faux pearls, beads, and fancy trims.
Halloween Party
Join us for a Halloween Party with crafts, games, a gourd hunt and more.