Montpelier VT – Downtown Buildings

I love visiting old cities with lots of history and Montpelier Vermont is no exception. Originally chartered on August 14, 1781, the Town of Montpelier was granted municipal powers by the “Governor, Council and General Assembly of the Freemen of the State of Vermont.”

Montpelier became the capital of Vermont in 1805, selected after years of debate as a central, neutral location, with residents donating land and funds for the first State House, making it the seat of government ever since.  It was chosen for its central location, away from the strong east/west divides in the state. Before Montpelier, the government moved around, but Windsor, VT served as an early official capital.

Even though the temperature was in the 90’s every day, I still managed to get in my daily walks. One of my favorite walks was around downtown Montpelier. There are so many interesting and old buildings to see!

Almost every New England town has a public library and Montpelier didn’t disappoint.

There are many beautiful old churches in Montpelier. This is just one example.

Even the state buildings have interesting architecture. Note the fancy turret on top of the courthouse.

I believe this building houses the Department of Agriculture.

I knew I would love Montpelier since they even have a crystal store. My regret is that I didn’t get a chance to visit it. 🙂

And, of course, the classic inn. It would be so nice to sit in that front porch and watch the world go by.

What interesting buildings have you seen on your travels?