Places to visit in Brattleboro, VT.
Located in Southern Vermont on the Connecticut River, Brattleboro has many activities for all ages. Its beautiful downtown area is filled with unique shops, a lively pub scene, and great restaurants. There are also numerous cultural institutions and outdoor activities.
Brattleboro, Vermont, is an attractive town with various things to do. From the Brattleboro Common to the Creamery Covered Bridge, there are plenty of fun activities and attractions to enjoy in the area.
Brattleboro is situated at the confluence of the West River and Connecticut River. While the northern part of the town is more rural, the western section is home to wooded Green Mountain foothills. During the summer months, Brattleboro is warm, humid, and sunny. However, the winters can be cold and snowy. Heavy showers often accompany snowfall.
Brattleboro is the birthplace of William Morris Hunt, a noted 19th-century American painter. He is also buried in the town.
Creamery Covered Bridge
The Creamery Covered Bridge is a historic landmark in West Brattleboro, Vermont. It is one of the few surviving 19th-century covered bridges in the state. This particular structure is a single span spanning Whetstone Brook.
The covered bridge was a popular tourist attraction. There was a small pull-off on each side. The bridge was open for thirty minutes at once, but it has recently been closed to traffic.
The original wooden shingles were replaced with slate in 1917. A sidewalk was added around that time. In addition, utility wires were run through the bridge.
Creamery Covered Bridge is the only covered wooden bridge in Brattleboro. It has been carrying traffic across Whetstone Brook since 1879.
Old Jelly Mill Falls
A small but mighty waterfall, Old Jelly Mill Falls is located near the town of West Dummerston in southern Vermont. This waterfall has several other smaller ledges surrounding it. It’s a nice spot to sit and enjoy the area’s serenity.
While Jelly Mill Falls is not the largest in the state, it is still a worthwhile sight. The falls are located along Stickney Brook and are one-tenth of a mile from Route 30.
You can get there by following the signs on the highway, or you can take a hike through the woods. Parking is free, and there are many exciting things to see and do along the way.
Old Jelly Mill Falls is located at the head of Stickney Brook Road and is well worth the drive. During the spring melt, the water flow is at its peak, and the view is not to be missed.
Retreat Tower
When you visit Brattleboro, Vermont, you will come across a beautiful edifice known as the Retreat Tower. This historic building is a former Vermont Asylum. The patients of the asylum constructed the tower in the year 1887.
The tower resulted from patients’ attempts to create a safe and comfortable environment for themselves. The structure was built to provide a view of the town, which was believed to be beneficial for the patients. The tower has a plain ashlar fabric. It is also topped with a projecting parapet made of granite. At the top, spiral staircases provide a nice view of the surrounding town.
The Retreat Tower is one of Brattleboro’s most popular tourist attractions. You can take an official tour to the top. Many people have reported seeing ghosts of former patients.
This is one of the oldest psychiatric hospitals in the United States. Founded in 1834 as the Vermont Asylum for the Insane, the hospital was renamed the Brattleboro Retreat in the late 19th century. Today, it is a private, non-profit mental health facility.
There are several buildings on the property. One of these is the Retreat Building, which has three chimneys. This rectangular, eaves-front block is connected to the adjacent Main Building by a passageway.
Vermont Jazz Center
The Vermont Jazz Center is an arts organization that promotes the state’s signature musical genre, jazz. They host several different programs, from after-school programs to concerts. It also offers a supervised weekly jam session.
The organization’s modest facility features a 120-seat performance hall and a Yamaha C7 grand piano. Aside from its jazz music offerings, the center also hosts weekend workshops, after-school programs, and other non-music-related activities. In addition to its educational and musical offerings, the center has an extensive collection of books, CDs, and DVDs, many of which are available for in-house study.
Other fun stuff at the center includes an archive complete with a few hundred books, hundreds of CDs, and several videos. Aside from its educational and musical offerings, the center is also a community hub, hosting many events and parties. Among other things, the center also assists band leaders, coaches, and professional adjudicators.
Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
The Brattleboro Museum & Art Center (BMAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting art in a way that educates and inspires. It houses six galleries in the former Union Station exhibiting changing contemporary visual arts exhibitions. In addition to its collections, BMAC hosts various events and offers educational programs. It is an anchor of southern Vermont’s cultural life.
Among its offerings are monthly art collaborations with the Brattleboro Food Co-op. It also has a collection of eclectic artifacts in its gift shop. Even a tiny room on the lower level of the building functions as a waiting room for the local train station.
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