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Things to do in Montpelier, Vermont

Things to Do in Montpelier, Vermont

ByMike Andersen Posted on Updated on

The best things to do in Montpelier, Vermont, are the gold-domed State House, the stone tower in Hubbard Park and a maple creemee at Morse Farm. Montpelier is Vermont’s capital and the seat of Washington County. With 8,074 people in 2020, it’s the least populous state capital in the country.

Colonel Jacob Davis named it after Montpellier, France, at a time when French help in the Revolution made anything French popular. Montpelier became the capital in 1805, partly because residents donated land and money for the first State House. Today it’s the only state capital with neither a McDonald’s nor a Starbucks.

Top things to do in Montpelier

Vermont State House

Thomas Silloway designed the current Greek Revival capitol, and lawmakers moved in during 1859 after fire gutted the earlier building in 1857. He kept the granite Doric portico from Ammi B. Young’s 1833 State House. A wooden statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, stands on the gilded dome. Most of the furniture inside dates to 1859, including the 30 walnut chairs still used in the Senate. Visitors may sit quietly on the floor of either chamber.

★ Good to know There’s no charge to visit, and most tours are free. Guided tours run on weekdays, with Saturday hours added in the fall, so check the State House site first.

Hubbard Park and Observation Tower

John E. Hubbard left the city 125 acres in 1899 to “preserve wilderness.” The park now covers more than 200 acres right behind the State House. It has about 7 miles of hiking and ski trails, two picnic shelters, a small pond and a sledding hill. The 54-foot stone tower went up between 1915 and 1930, built from old pasture walls.

★ Good to know Climb the tower on a clear day; the city cleared the trees around it in 1990 to keep the mountain views open.

Vermont History Museum

The Vermont Historical Society runs this museum at 109 State Street, in the Pavilion building next to the State House. Its core exhibit is Freedom & Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories. The society’s research library is in nearby Barre.

★ Good to know It’s open Tuesday through Saturday and closes on state and federal holidays, so don’t plan it for a Monday.

Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks

Harry Morse Sr. switched the family farm from dairy to maple in the mid-1960s, and the sugarworks opened to visitors in 1966. It’s on a hilltop 2.7 miles outside town at 1168 County Road. Inside the Woodshed Theatre, you watch a sugaring video from maple stump seats. Outside, a maple trail winds through the sugarbush, and the farm goats are nearby.

★ Good to know It’s open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas, and creemees are sold year-round. In March, try sugar on snow with a donut and a pickle.

The Savoy Theater

Rick Winston and Andrea Serota opened this two-screen art-house cinema at 26 Main Street in 1981. It shows documentaries, independent features and international films, with beer and wine at the counter. Each spring it hosts the Green Mountain Film Festival.

★ Good to know Check the Savoy’s schedule for its Cinema Club and classic-film nights.

Also in town

Downtown’s shops are mostly locally owned, including Bear Pond Books at 77 Main St.; the free Kellogg-Hubbard Library runs storytimes and events.

Good to know

When to goFall foliage usually peaks around early to mid-October, and March is sugaring season at Morse Farm. The State House is busiest when the legislature meets, January to May.
How long to stayOne full day covers the State House, the history museum, Hubbard Park and downtown. Add a half day for Morse Farm and a film at the Savoy.
Heads upParking near the State House fills early during the January-to-May legislative session. A free park-and-ride lot sits at the Department of Labor, 5 Green Mountain Drive.
Getting herePatrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) is the closest airport with scheduled airline service, about 35 miles northwest, or roughly 45 minutes by car. Amtrak’s Vermonter stops at Montpelier Junction, about 2 miles west of downtown.

FAQ

Is Montpelier the smallest state capital?

Yes, by population. Montpelier had 8,074 residents in the 2020 census, fewer than any other state capital. The Vermont State House is also often called the smallest state house in the country.

Can you tour the Vermont State House for free?

Yes. There’s no charge to visit, and most tours are free. Volunteer guides lead tours on weekdays, with Saturday hours added in the fall.

Does Montpelier have a McDonald’s or a Starbucks?

No. It’s the only state capital without either one, and most downtown businesses are locally owned. For more places like it, see our small towns in Vermont.

What’s near Montpelier worth a side trip?

Morse Farm is 2.7 miles out of town. The Mad River Valley and its ski areas are to the southwest; see Waitsfield, or head north to Stowe.

Where to find them

Plan your trip: for events and current visitor info in Montpelier, see Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce →

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Where to stay in Montpelier

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