Shelburne Farms facts for kids
 |
|
 |
|
| Established | 1972 |
|---|---|
| Location | Shelburne, Vermont |
| Type | Nonprofit |
|
Shelburne Farms
|
|
| Area | 1,339 acres (542 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Robert Henderson Robertson |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival, Queen Anne |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000330 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1980 |
| Designated NHLD | January 3, 2001 |
Shelburne Farms is a special place in Shelburne, Vermont, right by Lake Champlain. It's a big farm, about 1,400 acres, that also teaches people about living in a way that helps the planet. It's a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a very important historical site. This farm is a great example of a large, fancy farm from the late 1800s, known as the "Gilded Age." Its buildings were designed by Robert Henderson Robertson, and the beautiful landscapes were planned by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Discover Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms is a nonprofit organization. This means it's a group that works for a good cause, not to make money. Their main goal is to teach people about sustainability. Sustainability is about using resources wisely so that they are still available for future generations.
The farm is a working farm, which means it produces food. It also serves as a learning center. Visitors can explore the farm and learn about its history and how it helps the environment.
A Farm with a Past
Shelburne Farms was started in 1886. It was created by Dr. William Seward Webb and his wife, Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb. Eliza inherited money from her father, who was a very rich railroad owner named William Henry Vanderbilt. They wanted to build a perfect farm estate.
They hired famous people to help them. Frederick Law Olmsted, a landscape architect, planned the layout of the large property. He designed how the farm, fields, and forests would look. Robert Henderson Robertson, an architect from New York, designed the buildings. The Webbs bought many smaller farms to create their huge estate. They even changed some public roads to fit their vision.
Because of its history and design, Shelburne Farms was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It became a National Historic Landmark District in 2001. This shows how important it is to American history.
Learning and Sustainability
In 1972, the Webb family's descendants turned Shelburne Farms into a nonprofit educational organization. This means it became a place for learning. They wanted to share the farm's beauty and teach others about farming and nature.
A large part of the farm, almost 400 acres, is covered by forests. These forests are managed in a sustainable way. This means they are cared for so they stay healthy for a long time. In 1998, these woodlands received a "Green Certification" from the Forest Stewardship Council. This award shows they are managed in an environmentally friendly way.
The farm also has a dairy. They raise 125 special Brown Swiss cows. These cows eat mostly grass. Their milk is used to make delicious farmhouse cheddar cheese. The farm teaches people about farming methods that are good for the environment, good for business, and good for the community.
See also
