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Shelburne’s rare surviving two-lane Covered Bridge was built in 1845 to span the Lamoille River in Cambridge, Vermont. The bridge’s distinguishing arch truss, which permitted longer spans, was patented in 1804 by Vermont inventor Theodore Burr. The 168-foot bridge has two vehicle lanes and a footpath. The roof protects it from severe weather and adds structural stability, and the enclosed sides shielded farm animals from distracting views. The Covered Bridge was dismantled and moved in 1949 to the Museum, where a pond underneath evokes its original setting. |
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The General Store exhibits a full spectrum of late 19th-century essentials. Adjoining rooms include a post office, barber shop, and tap room, reminiscent of the period when general stores served as community centers. The store was built as the Town of Shelburne post office in 1840. It was moved intact to the museum in 1952. |
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| The adjacent Apothecary Shop was added in 1959. Display shelves, a pill press, and other professional tools re-create a late 19th-century druggist’s shop, while the main room displays herbal remedies of an earlier period. I think there might be a current market for Harvey's female pills! |
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| Next, we visited an interesting exhibit in the Round House that highlighted the transformation of travel over snow from horse-drawn sleighs of the 19th century to motorized snowmobiles in the 20th century. |
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| The exhibit featured vintage snowmobiles from the experimental early days to the heyday of the 1970s through the present. |
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| One of the earlier models of Ski-Doos, still a very popular brand of snowmobiles today. |
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| The grounds of Shelburne Museum were so beautiful and immaculate. |