Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Vermont State House, Montpelier, VT

Photo: Harrison Keely, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFree

Vermont State House

115 State Street · Montpelier, VT

Why you should go…

The Vermont State House is a Greek Revival capitol with a gold leaf dome, completed in 1859 as the third statehouse on its site in Montpelier. Its House and Senate chambers are the oldest active legislative halls in the country that keep their original interiors. In the main lobby stands Larkin Goldsmith Mead's sculpture of Lincoln, and a free audio tour wand guides you through. From January to May you can watch the legislature at work.

  • #state capitol
  • #historic building
  • #free tour
  • #architecture
  • #government

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Vermont State House, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Vermont Attractions Association

    Free

    Vermont's statewide trade association for attractions, connecting travelers with the state's tourism destinations.

    3.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Vermont Chamber of Commerce

    Free

    Vermont's state chamber of commerce, which administers the state's official tourism marketing program and travel guides.

    3.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Vermont Association of Snow Travelers

    Free

    Nonprofit trail association that maintains and grooms Vermont's statewide snowmobile trail network.

    3.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Ben & Jerry's Factory

    Under $25

    Take a 30-minute guided ice cream factory tour with a sample, then visit the Flavor Graveyard for retired flavors.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Stay
    Iconic

    von Trapp Family Lodge & Resort

    $50+

    Stay at the Austrian-style mountain lodge run by the singing von Trapp family on 2,600 acres above Stowe.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Stay

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Church Street Marketplace

    Free

    Stroll four car-free blocks of downtown Burlington lined with local shops, restaurants and a busy calendar of street events.

    35 mi awayMore like this