We hold these truths to be self-evident

Even though Mr. Ken and I have been to Vermont many times, we always find somewhere new to explore. This time it was Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, located in Manchester Vermont. This beautiful estate is the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife Mary Harlan Lincoln. Robert Todd Lincoln is the oldest son of Abraham Lincoln and the only one of the Lincoln sons who lived to adulthood.

I was so excited to visit this place since I still remember having to memorize Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Emancipation Proclamation.” It began, “We hold these truths to be self-evident. . .”

Robert Todd Lincoln was an American lawyer, military officer, businessman and politician. He made his primary home in Chicago, with Hildene being his summer home.

Hildene is formed from two old English words: “Hil” meaning “hill” and “dene” meaning “valley with stream.” Robert and his wife Mary gave their Vermont home this name because it is perched on a hill overlooking the Taconic Mountains to the west, the Green Mountains to the east, and the Battenkill river flowing through the great Battenkill Valley below. The estate includes the beautiful house, the Pullman Car named Sunbeam and the Hildene Farm. The non-profit Friends of Hildene purchased the estate in 1978 and began the process of lovingly restoring it. It is quite beautiful and breath taking.

The gardens make quite the backdrop for the house.

The gardens are meticulously maintained.

This glorious mountain view is my favorite view. There is something so soothing, yet majestic about mountains. This is one reason I love Vermont so much. Almost everywhere you go, you see mountains.

Not only is there this beautiful house, with the glorious view, there are many other interesting things at Hildene.

On June 4, 2011, cheering crowds lined the streets of Manchester, Vermont, to welcome a long-awaited new arrival. The guest of honor wasn’t someone famous, but still a beauty: a green Pullman Palace railroad car shipped to Manchester from South Carolina on two flatbed trucks. The 72-foot car, christened Sunbeam, touted as the finest example of a restored wooden Pullman car in the world, would soon complete its thousand-mile journey to go on permanent display at the custom-built “station” on the grounds of Hildene. Robert Todd Lincoln was also once the Chairman of the Board of the Pullman Palace Car Company.

The inside of Sunbeam is just as fancy as the inside of Hildene. This train car is nothing like the commuter rail cars I am used to. The warm wood interior is beautiful.

There is also a working goat dairy farm at Hildene. Goats are so cute, don’t you think? I just love their big floppy ears.

What interesting historical places have you visited?