Bennington, Vermont, tucked away between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Taconic range of New York, is a place like no other. Fans of Bennington are proud of both the large number of historic Victorian homes and the seamless harmony between the old and the new. Whether seeking an afternoon steeped in history as you tour famous Victorian homes, opting for a day of soaking in modern art or taking part in outdoor recreation, Bennington offers something for everyone. Many of the fine old Victorian homes are now bed-and-breakfast inns, so you can enjoy historic character coupled with modern comforts.
A Victorian style home is obvious to even the most casual observer. Characterized by steeply pitched roofs, front facing gables, a porch either partially or fully extended across one or more sides of the home and a facade that is asymmetrical in design, Victorian homes exude charm and elegance. Victorian homes often featured elaborate ironwork, decorative elements and several complementary paint colors on the exterior, with the interiors featuring dark, luxurious colors, fanciful woodwork and dramatic lighting fixtures.
The Park-McCullough house is a beautiful 35-room Victorian home built for attorney Trenor Park and his family by architect Henry Dudley of the New York firm Diaper and Dudley. Boasting innovations such as gas lights, hot and cold running water, five indoor bathrooms and central heat and ventilation, the Park-McCullough home was at the forefront of the technology of the day. It is currently owned by a nonprofit corporation and is open to the public.
The grounds are just as impressive as the home. Visitors are sure to get their exercise as they walk the grounds of this 200-acre estate, which features a fishpond, a fountain, landscaped gardens, a grape arbor and a children's playhouse built in the same style as the home.
The South Shire Inn was owned by a prominent area banker, Louis A. Graves, and designed by William C. Bull, an architect responsible for many Victorian homes in the Bennington area. Built in 1880, a mahogany paneled library features leaded glass pocket doors on its bookshelves that promise a cozy evening reading by the fire. As is typical of Victorian-style homes, the five guest rooms are bathed in rich hues, and most of them are furnished with working fireplaces and canopied beds.
Believed to be the oldest home in the area, the Samuel Safford House was built by Lt. Colonel Samuel John Safford in 1774. In 1762, Joseph Safford, Samuel's father, together with his partner Samuel Robinson, built the first sawmill in East Bennington, which was situated across from where the house now stands. After Safford's death in the 1830's, his widow's family, the Morgans, inherited the property. In 1877, after time spent in the California gold rush, William R. Morgan moved into the home, changing many features of the home both inside and out. Today the home is known as the Samuel Safford Inne, and you'll find rich, vibrant colors and polished wood floors that transport you back in time to a more genteel era of grace and dignity, without sacrificing modern conveniences.
