The City of Vergennes, Vermont
Vergennes is Vermont's oldest city, established in 1788, and
is also
Vermont's first incorporated City. The city's name was suggested by
Ethan Allen to honor the Comte de Vergennes who served as the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs and negotiator of the Treaty of Paris.
Vergennes
was very much a part of the War of 1812 due to the navigability of
Otter Creek providing access to Lake Champlain. Commodore Thomas
MacDonough commanded the building of a naval fleet to defeat the Lake
against the British invasion. A marker designating the site of the
shipyard can be found on the east side of Otter Creek in the Basin area.
Vergennes Attractions
Bixby
Library
The library began with money left by local businessman, Willima Bixby,
in his estate to build and maintain a public library that to serve the
five towns of Addison, Ferrisburgh, Panton, Vergennes, and Waltham. The
building was designed by Frederick Frost of Trowbridge and Livingstone
and built by W. Shelton Swallow both of New York. The cornerstone was
laid on September 21, 1911. Permanent exhibits include the Bilhuber
Indian artifacts, local arrowheads, and military artifacts from the
American Revolution and Civil War. www.bixbylibrary.org
Lake
Champlain Maritime Museum
LCMM offers hand-on fun for the whole family! Discover the rich history
of beautiful Lake Champlain! Hands-on historic exhibits, nautical
archaeology laboratory, kid's playground and replica revolutionary War
gunboat, Philadelphia II. Open daily 10-5, Mid-May to Mid-October. www.lcmm.org
Rokeby Museum
National Historic Landmark, underground railroad stop, time capsule.
House tours Thursday-Sundays. Open mid-May to mid-October. www.rokeby.org
Vergennes Opera House
The Opera House was restored through a community-wide effort reopening
in 1997. Offering year-round entertainment—music, dance and
special events. Visit this historic Opera House located on the second
floor of City Hall on Main Street. www.vergennesoperahouse.org
Annual events held in Vergennes, Vermont
French
Heritage Day
A day learning of the culture of the French heritage found within the
state. From cloggers, music to
food. A wonderful family day. Held Saturday on or near Bastille Day. Information
Vergennes
Day
A fun day to spend in Vergennes, Vermont! Great family activities found
throughout the City—City Park, Basin Area along the banks of
the
Otter Creek, Vergennes Opera House, Bixby Memorial Library, and more.
Mark your calendar for the fourth Saturday in August!
Information
Vergennes
Holiday Stroll
Celebrate the Holiday Season in style! Held the first weekend in
December.Information
Vergennes is home to over 2,000 people, and covers approximately 1200 acres of land. Vergennes is located in Addison County, 25 miles south of Burlington; 12 miles north of Middlebury on Route 22A.
Vergennes
City Government
City Clerk, Joan T. Devine
City Manager, Renny Perry
Mayor, Mike Daniels, citymayor@verizon.net
PO Box 3
Vergennes, VT 05491
T. 802-877-2841 F.802-877-1160
Clerk's office open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00-4:30; Tuesday,
Thursday 8:00-3:30
Manager's office open Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30
For
further information on Vergennes contact:
Vergennes Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 335
Vergennes, VT 05491
Or email info@midvermont.com
The Vergennes Chamber of Commerce is a division of the Addison County Chamber of Commerce
Area Info:
• Area Info
• Bristol
• Middlebury
• Vergennes
• Town Clerks
• History
• Covered Bridges
• Recreation/Cultural
• Transportation
• Genealogy