Overview

The Old Stone House Museum & Historic Village opened in 1925. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the museum chronicles the history of Northern Vermont through its collections, exhibits, events and educational programs. A featured stop on Vermont’s African American Heritage Trail, the museum tells the story of African American Alexander Lucius Twilight. Mr. Twilight was the first African American college graduate and state legislator in the United States and he built our namesake Old Stone House which he called Athenian Hall.

Inside the museum’s thirty rooms are more than 75,000 objects that tell the story of Orleans County, Vermont. This includes furniture, paintings, tools, textiles, folk art and all the stuff of 19th century life. Some noted items in the collection include Rufus Porter wall murals, a Civil War-era congressional desk, a small Mormon relic from Vermont and the always popular “phantom baby” portrait on the top floor. Two barns display antique agricultural items, horse drawn transportation, maple sugaring equipment and more. Our grounds are the perfect place to plan a picnic and no visit is complete without a walk up Prospect Hill.

Mission 

We bring to life the history of Orleans County in ways that invite exploration, spark connection, and build meaning.

Vision

We believe history matters, that it has the power to ignite imagination, provoke conversation, and build a dynamic cultural hub for our community.