Shelburne Museum

We love Shelburne Museum! I take my children and those I nanny here multiple times a week during the summer. I feel that there are things here any generation would enjoy. With little kids, we check out the Ticonderoga, the train, the carousel, the circus, the taxidermy, the toy shop, and the school house playground.
I have only two complaints:
1. The price. With a season pass it’s reasonable, but bringing family or friends is ridiculously expensive, especially for a half day.
2. A few years ago they redesigned the entrance so you have to walk through the gift shop to enter the museum. Past the extremely expensive, low to the ground, breakable items. With small children. And strollers. I miss just being able to come in.

When we went in January, there were only two buildings that are open. First you have to go to the gift shop to get the tickets and then you’ll be given a map of the museum which is pretty big. The first building only had one exhibit which was disappointing and the exhibit wasn’t very big either. The other building that was open was better since there were more things to look at. The only thing they had in that house was paintings. The house has two levels but the staircase is small and narrow. The lower level is a lot smaller than the upper level. To be honest it was kind of boring and I would suggest you to visit in spring or summer when everything is open

This museum is rich with history and something for anyone! We went as a group of adults, teenagers, and small children and we all left feeling happy and entertained. The staff is very passionate and knowledgable about their exhibits and are willing to interact with you and answer any and all questions. The buildings are so interesting and educational. We only wish it was summer so we could have seen more exhibits!

Wow, what an amazing place! Even though we live in NYC, we joined the Shelburne Museum three years ago when we first visited.
Each October we travel back and a trip to the place is our first priority.
The exhibits are, as has been pointed out, are greatly varied and spread about many buildings on the property.
If you are ambivalent about Americana, you likely won’t be after a visit here. The creative settings and friendly, informed staff who work throughout the complex make everything come alive.
I never thought I would enjoy looking at quilts. If you had told me I would be visiting a quilt exhibit I would probably have pretended I had the flu and couldn’t possibly go. But the quilt exhibit is incredibly stunning and the woman who was staffing that area last weekend was so passionate and personable I think I may be a quilt lover now!
This is a really special place!

Amazing museum. We only spent a few hours here but it was well worth it. Would love to go back and see the rest. The steam ship was probably the highlight for me but not the only interesting thing to see there. I highly recommend.

One of the best museums in VT hands down. I’ve brought my 7 yr old, I’ve brought my grandparents, everyone seems to love it. There is also a great trolley/​shuttle if you are unable to walk a lot. Favorite time to go is Lilac season in May.

3.5 STARS
This museum is more of an open air museum with various buildings. I thought it was a bit expensive at $ 24/​adult, but it does give you access for 2 days.
We took the shuttle around the whole museum first to get a survey of what we wanted to see, then stopped off at the Ticonderoga for a 2:30 pm tour. We spent about 15 minutes on the tour and bailed because the pacing of the tour was just too slow. I think YMMV on tours, depending on who’s giving it. The boat itself was interesting and they put so much work into restoring it that you have to appreciate the workmanship.
We stopped into the Webb Gallery to see the Wyeth and the few Grandma Moses paintings they have in the basement. The Wyeth was interesting because it’s a literal «bird’s eye view.» The covered bridge was fun to take pictures on and it’s closed to traffic, so you can really take your time with photos. I thought I would like the Circus exhibit a bit more, but it was alright. My favorite thing in the building was the miniature 3 ring circus that took 40 years to complete.
The grounds of the museum are really beautiful and well maintained. We were told that L.L.Bean has used the museum for the winter catalog for the past 3 years. I feel like I’ve been saying this a lot about my time in New England: I’m glad I went because I would have regretted NOT going, but the museum wasn’t the best museum I’ve ever been to.

I love Shelburne Museum as an adult. I didn’t love it as a kid when I had to go there on school day trips.
The «museum» is several acres of land. It is dotted with old, historical Vermont buildings. As a child I liked the old general store because it sold old-​fashion penny candy and rock sugar. The merry-​go-​round and the old steam ship were also my favorites. Now that I’m older I enjoy visiting the rest of the buildings and noticing the architecture, reading the displays, etc. I recently discovered that the old settlers cabin was made by my great great great great grandfather (? I may have missed a great in there) Antoine Lorraine who was from Canada and built many settlers cabins in the area. The fact that some survive attest to the quality. The settlers cabin is probably the least impressive building on the grounds, it’s very simple, rustic and humble. But the fact that an ancestor created it makes it one of my favorites.
They also have great art shows. Small exhibits. But always very good for the area.
If you’re visiting Vermont and want to learn a bit about local history this is a place you really should visit. If you’re from Vermont it’s also a must visit as there are few places that will educate you about your state’s history as well as this place can.

I loved the dolls, and the circus building! The food was expensive but I wasn’t really surprised about that.

Do not be put off by the admission fee. The circus exhibit is worth the price alone. Your ticket is good for two days. You could allot one full day to see everything but if you have more time, I would suggest two days. The sheer volume of things to see is overwhelming and exhilarating. You will be awe struck by the quality of the artifacts. Highlights for me were the circus collection (I started there and then went in again before I left) variety unit, Stagecoach Inn, quilts, toy collection, Beach Lodge and the Stencil house. Each building has a friendly and knowledgeable guide that can answer questions. If you love folk art, you will be blown away by this museum. Visiting the Shelburne Museum was honestly one of the best days of my entire life!

Top 5 museums of all time!
I am not a museum person. The mere mention of the word puts me to sleep. Mainly because I hate being inside in dim lighting standing in one place and slowly moving around. I like learning about history and art, but not in that venue.
While the Shelburne Museum has some buildings like this, the layout of the place and the vast array of stuff makes it much more interesting. The grounds themselves are something to enjoy — the gardens even have plaques, which my father enjoyed. I loved the Ticondderoga, private train car, pharmacy, covered bridge, circus and quilting exhibit.
I spoke with some of the museum volunteers, and each was engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate about the museum. Some had been volunteering there for 15 years.
By the end we had to pick and choose what to see because there was so much, but this just means that next time I come back there will be even more.

Great museum that has something for everyone: art, history, beautiful grounds, plenty of open space for kids to run around. Each building has a certain focus like art, jail, weaving, blacksmith, and so forth. We took my little one here; she had a great time crawling around. I’ll definitely be bringing family and friends from out of town here-it’s a gem!

Absolutely a wonderful way to spend a day! Learning history and exploring the beautiful grounds of Shelburne museum. The place is great for young and older children there are fields to play in and buildings from different time eras to learn about. Great deals, awesome food!

This is a museum within a museum set so exquisitely on beautiful grounds. We had no idea how much there was to see so we simply did not arrive early enough to see everything we would have liked to see before it closed.
I cannot wait to return!

Really, they should not call this a Museum.
Shelburne Museum is more like a mini village.
What museum has 36 gallery/​shop/​store/​exhibits, has a shuttle and two day admission because it is not humanly possible to see every site within their 10−5pm admission hours?
I remember being brought here as a child on a field trip. I loved the Ticonderoga, round barn, blacksmith, print shop and light house. That was all I remember.
You can bring your child here but there is so much more that they may not be able to appreciate or have the patience to sit through. Perhaps an older more mature child. For example: The Electra Havemeyer Webb Memorial building has a room of original Monet’s! (Did we know what or who Monet was back then?!!) One of the Monets, a guide suggested, should be viewed from the opposite corner of the room. I don’t think we were even let into this building on our field trip. My friend recalls kicking up dirt for the majority of his field trip because he was bored.
The admission price may appear steep but keep in mind that you don’t have to pay for a tour guide. They have a guide at each of the exhibits, reexplaining their craft or the artifacts as a new group cycles in.
Tip: If you are here for two days, I would certainly come back to see everything!
If you are here for only one day, I Highly recommend the Ticonderoga, the Blacksmith shop (yes he makes materials that is later sold in the workshop such as iron hooks), print shop, lighthouse, and the Apothecary shop.
Tip: to get to the Apothecary shop, you need to enter through the General store. The door for the apothecary shop is locked.
Enjoy!
Cram as much knowledge into your noggin as you can!

It’s fantastic, all-​around. The grounds are immaculate. The exhibits are cool, the old buildings are neat, and the staff are incredibly knowledgeable.
The focus here is NOT «folk art». The focus is mostly american history, primarily from 1800 – 1950.
FAVORITE EXHIBITS: The print shop, the circus posters, the Ticonderoga steamship, the old horse carriages, and the Adirondack life exhibit.

Attended a concert on the green (but got to sit on the Museum side). Great spot for a concert when the weather is good. nice sloping hill and we even had fireworks off in the distance. However, leaving the parking lot is a nightmare. either park near the main road (farthest away from the stage) or plan on sitting for at least a half hour before you get in your car.

If I ever make it back to VT this is the place where I will spend my time. I was amazed by all the different things to see on this huge property. I was there for only 3 hours or so and that was not enough time to see everything. I would not take my child there because there is too many breakable items but I would go back to check things out again.

The place should have something for everyone, that is if they have a heartbeat. My blood pressure increased as I viewed and walked aboard the Ticonderoga, a one-​cyl steam propelled walking beam side paddle ship which plied the waters of Lake Champlain. Compared to the other remaining ship of its kind in San Francisco, this example is pure luxury. Everything about her shouts opulence. There are a number of tours given during the day, one movie clip about how she was moved from the lake to her present spot, and a number of placards describing the different areas/​rooms. I continued to feel excitation in some of the other areas of the museum site such as the toy and automaton exhibit. Watch the video offered in the same room as the automaton exhibit and prepare to be amazed, the «opium smoker» appeared so life like while partaking the substance.

So much more than expected. This place is just plain fun!