Founded in 1852, Bennington Museum’s 23,500 sq ft building sits on a 10-acre campus in rural Southern VT. The grounds include the popular George Aiken Wildflower Trail (GAWT) adorned with permanent and changing art, nature-space stations for kids’ activities, and informational signage about the cultural and natural history of the area. Bennington Museum is one of the few accredited institutions in the state of Vermont and we have been proud to hold that status for over 40 years. Our mission is to engage our visitors and community by connecting them to our region’s diverse arts, rich history, and culture of innovation. Bennington Museum provides a unique, affordable, cultural experience for all ages and backgrounds. Through our collections and programs, people everywhere will come to value the stories of Vermont, the Bennington region, and the achievements of those who have lived here.

Bennington Museum’s collection of 49,000 objects reflects the art and history of Southern VT and nearby regions. Within the collection are four internationally important facets: extensive and unparalleled primary resources documenting the Battle of Bennington; the largest collection of iconic 19th century Bennington ceramics; the 1863 Jane Stickle quilt – a prime example of American textile craftsmanship; and the world’s largest collection of art, personal objects and ephemera of famed American artist “Grandma” Moses. These significant collections embody a unique sense of place, and although they have been loaned throughout the world, they are best understood by more than 20,000 in-person visitors each year, here, at Bennington Museum, in the context of the very environment in which they were created.

Supporting the collections are several major programs, all of which are presented to the public free of charge: Bennington Historical Society: fostering a greater understanding of our common heritage through public presentations and research projects. Museum ABCs: Cultural and early literacy experiences for pre-schoolers in partnership with the Bennington Free Library. Concerts: Music at the Museum (indoor) and Concerts in the Courtyard (outdoor) series. K-12 Education: curated content for in-house or off-site lessons that dovetail with core curriculum.