Hildene - Manchester, Vermont - Historic Summer Home and Exhibit Museum of Abraham Lincoln

Robert Todd Lincoln constructed Hildene as a summer home around the 20th century. He was the only son of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to maturity. Robert first visited Manchester as a young man in the summers of 1863 and 1864, when he reached the Equinox Hotel with his mother and his brother, Tad. He was so taken by the beauty of Vermont that some forty years later he returned to buy 500 acres of land to build what they call their ancestral home.

The Hildene Friends non-profit group raised the money to buy the farm in 1978 and began the long process of restoring the house and gardens. The garden, designed as a birthday gift from Jesse Lincoln by his mother Mary, include many of the original plantings of 1907 and produce thousands of peony blossoms every June.

The garden promontory overlooking the Battenkill Valley, offers spectacular views of the mountains on both sides and 300 meters below Meadowlands. The cutting and vegetable garden behind the Welcome Center was renovated in the spring of 2003 and the original potting shed now houses exhibitions and a space for volunteers who maintain the garden.

Many of the programs and events take place at the farm each year, including camps for children, art festivals, art exhibitions, concerts, community, agricultural fairs, polo matches, and the days of the family. Hildene feasts are the highlight of the winter season, when the house is dressed in traditional festive decorations with flowers, foliage and candles everywhere. The gardens, lawns and house are also available during private events.

The Hildene exhibition program has covered a variety of topics, including Vermont and the North District in the Civil War: the common experience of courage. This exhibition told the story deep Equinox Manchester Police itself, his journey into battle and the resulting impact on their community.

In 2004, the permanent collection of artifacts of Hildene featuring President Abraham Lincoln was put on display in a new and profound interpretation of our 16th president, titled: Abraham Lincoln's personal.

Hildene walking trails with interpretive signposting visitors the opportunity to see the forest areas of the property and provide a link to the beginning of a working farm in the 10-acre meadow. During winter, roads become trails cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Twenty-groomed and marked trails wind through forests and meadows of over 14 miles.

Exhibits and garden of the main house and surrounding gardens are open every day. Large groups and bus tours are welcomed by reservation throughout the year.

The Welcome Center, Museum Store, House and exhibitions are open 9:30-4:30 all year. In the winter months, skiing Pavilion next to the Welcome Center becomes a warming hut and a rental shop.

There are 14 kilometers of roads in the estate who become ski slopes with different difficulty levels. The facility offer ski rentals for children and adults, snowshoe rentals and lessons by appointment. The ski season runs from mid-December to mid March, and 9:30-4:00, weather permitting.