Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History

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Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History The Henry Sheldon Museum is the oldest chartered community history museum in the United States.

The Sheldon Museum, the oldest community-based Museum in the country, has welcomed visitors and researchers since 1882. Our mission is to serve the public by preserving the historic memory of Addison County and neighboring communities, heightening the awareness and enjoyment of our rich cultural legacy, and stimulating the study of connections between Vermont’s past and broader historical themes. We offer lively tours, exhibits, and programs to enrich the understanding of Vermont’s past in each of the three main areas of the Museum:

◾The Judd-Harris House, built in 1829, showcases a wealth of objects depicting small town life in nineteenth century Vermont

◾The Stewart-Swift Research Center houses one of the state’s premier archival collections, documenting the history of Middlebury, Addison County, and Vermont

◾The Walter Cerf Gallery hosts changing exhibits throughout the year

Public programs at the Sheldon Museum include a popular Holiday Open House, an outdoor Pops Concert in the summer, and many other events throughout the year. View Programs & Events for a full list of upcoming Museum programs.

Join us on Saturday, October 24 from 1 -3 pm for a conversation between comic artists, graphic novelists, and faculty at...
10/22/2026

Join us on Saturday, October 24 from 1 -3 pm for a conversation between comic artists, graphic novelists, and faculty at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Dan Nott, Daryl Seitchik, and Tillie Walden.

Their conversation will be moderated by Middlebury Professor of History Rebecca Bennette and will explore how three Vermont artists and creators draw inspiration from one another as they craft unique and compelling stories. Through their conversation, audience members will gain insight into the creative process and discover how art and storytelling can deepen our engagement with the histories, communities, and stories that surround us.

Panel discussion:
Ilsley Library, 75 Main St. Middlebury, VT

Book signing & reception to follow: Henry Sheldon Museum, 1 Park St. Middlebury, VT (across the street from Ilsley Library). Walden’s graphic novel, Charity & Sylvia, will be available for purchase in the Museum store.

Free and open to all. Sponsored by Vermont Humanities Fall Festival: Our Woven History

Don't be jealous of our classrooms 🍁 😍 ok, maybe a little bit. This academic year we're welcoming Shannon Leah Collis, a...
10/22/2026

Don't be jealous of our classrooms 🍁 😍 ok, maybe a little bit. This academic year we're welcoming Shannon Leah Collis, a multidisciplinary artist whose work focuses on audiovisual dimensions of the natural world and human impacts on the environment. What better place to explore these questions then the historic archives held in Middlebury College Special Collections and the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History? Eight lucky Middlebury College students will be working with Shannon Collis to explore historical archives and record our local soundscapes in high-definition audio 🎤 🎧. Our picturesque Bread Loaf mountain campus was the perfect place to start our sound documentation. Shannon Collis will be back in the spring for a second week-long residency — stay tuned for details.

Thanks to our sponsors: Axinn Center for the Humanities, Middlebury College Museum of Art, the Studio Art Department, the Middlebury College Library, the Department of the History of Art & Architecture, the Environmental Studies Program, the Climate Action Program, Middlebury College Library, and the Henry Sheldon Museum.

10/22/2026

This Saturday, join cartoonists Dan Nott, Daryl Seitchik, and Tillie Walden at the Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury for "Illustrating Vermont History." This free event begins at 1 pm.

The panel moderated by Middlebury College Professor of History Rebecca Bennette will explore how these threeVermont artists and creators draw inspiration from one another as they craft unique and compelling stories.

A book signing and reception will follow at the Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History.

Learn more at: https://bit.ly/vt-history-1024

The Henry Sheldon Museum is hiring a Seasonal Museum Assistant for the upcoming holiday season!This part-time position w...
10/16/2026

The Henry Sheldon Museum is hiring a Seasonal Museum Assistant for the upcoming holiday season!

This part-time position will help bring our holiday offerings to the community by supporting Makerspace activities, our model trains exhibit, museum store and admissions, and other seasonal programs and events. If you or someone you know enjoys working with people, wearing a few hats, and being part of a lively community museum, we’d love to hear from you!

See the full job description and learn how to apply: https://www.henrysheldonmuseum.org/work-at-the-sheldon

🏳️‍🌈Charity & Sylvia Week is next week!🏳️‍🌈 Pick up a passport from the Ilsley Public Library or Henry Sheldon Museum, a...
10/15/2026

🏳️‍🌈Charity & Sylvia Week is next week!🏳️‍🌈

Pick up a passport from the Ilsley Public Library or Henry Sheldon Museum, and then attend our three Charity & Sylvia Week signature events happening at the Ilsley Public Library on October 20-24, 2026!

🎉Participants who attend all three events and get their passport stamped at each one will be entered in a raffle for a Charity & Sylvia gift basket!

Signature Events:
⭐️Tuesday, October 20 @ 6:30pm (Ilsley Community Room): “Pins and Pies, Linens and Lamps: Imagining the World of Charity & Sylvia” with Coco Moseley & Dr. Ellery Foutch
⭐️Wednesday, October 21 @ 6:00pm (Ilsley Conference Room): Discussion of Tillie Walden’s Charity & Sylvia
And
⭐️Saturday, October 24 @ 1:00pm (Ilsley Community Room): “Illustrating Vermont History” Panel Discussion with Tillie Walden, Dan Nott, Daryl Seitchik and moderated by Middlebury College Professor of History Rebecca Bennette. Cookies and book signing at the Museum after the event!

🔗in bio to learn more! These events are a partnership between Ilsley Public Library, Henry Sheldon Museum and Vermont Humanities.

Image: Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden.

Our Community Memory Altar, in partnership with Porter Medical Center Palliative Care Department is on view through Nove...
10/14/2026

Our Community Memory Altar, in partnership with Porter Medical Center Palliative Care Department is on view through November 4. Stop by for a quiet moment of remembrance or to leave a note, picture or token of a beloved.

Today we welcomed an enthusiastic and curious bunch of first year students in Professor Carrie Anderson’s Between Art, C...
10/06/2026

Today we welcomed an enthusiastic and curious bunch of first year students in Professor Carrie Anderson’s Between Art, Craft, and Industry: Textiles and Migration in New England to the Museum to kick off their object study! They examined some 19th century coverlets and other textile tools in the Sheldon collection. Students will conduct original research on these objects and their work will be added to the Museum’s object files!

Join artist Kate Gridley for a reception and gallery talk on the new exhibit Re/Collecting, which features 29 selected w...
09/29/2026

Join artist Kate Gridley for a reception and gallery talk on the new exhibit Re/Collecting, which features 29 selected works from Kate Gridley’s Witness Marks series alongside items from the Museum’s collection.

Paired together, these works offer insight into the connection between material objects and memory, and pose to the viewer how the acts of collecting and recollecting become enmeshed.

Free and open to all. Light refreshments provided

That’s a wrap on Mingle 2026! From the photo booth to the auction to the art making, Zydeco music, food truck and games,...
09/27/2026

That’s a wrap on Mingle 2026! From the photo booth to the auction to the art making, Zydeco music, food truck and games, the Museum was hoppin’! Thanks to all!

This event supports HSM’s programs and exhibits.
Generously sponsored by County Tire Center, Inc.,
Co-operative Insurance Companies, Deppman Law PLC, The Richards Group & Vermont Book Shop.

Coming soon: the Photo Booth reel!

09/25/2026

The Mingle is tomorrow! 🎉 Don’t miss out on the music, food, silent auction, and all the fun. Tickets are available on our website, with a limited number available at the door!

Address

1 Park Street
Middlebury, VT
05753

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18023882117

Website

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