Visit Hildene

The president's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, traveled to Manchester with his mother just before his father was killed. In the early 20th century, after he had been named president of the Pullman Company, he went back to start the Georgian Revival Hildene as his country residence. Hildene is decorated with a number of items from Mrs. Lincoln's family and serves as a great illustration of residences constructed as getaways for the families of wealthy magnates. His renowned stovepipe hat is among President Lincoln's personal items.

The beautiful dining room with Queen Anne-style furnishings and the operating, 1,000-pipe Aeolian organ from 1908 are other attractions. The house's original furnishings and artifacts were kept because the Lincoln family owned it until 1975. Using photographs of the original plantings, the formal gardens on the terrace overlooking the wide valley have been rebuilt.

You can stay in one of the numerous opulent mansions wealthy businessmen in Manchester have erected in Manchester. The Ormsby Hill Inn, close to Hildene, is now a posh bed and breakfast.

The magnificent 400-acre grounds, which contain the mansion and 13 historic structures, can now be seen independently or with a guide. The formal garden, a 1903 Pullman car, an observatory, a facility for creating goat cheese and dairy products using solar power, and a historic carriage barn were among the attractions. The numerous walking trails that wind throughout the property will undoubtedly appeal to visitors.

Location: 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vermont

Phone: +1 802-362-1788

Google rating: 4.7/5.0