Castleton: History, Culture and Events

A stay in Castleton can be planned around two main attractions: the village’s architectural history and the cultural offerings on the Castleton campus. There are also seasonal events and rail service on the Ethan Allen Express. If you’re looking for a hotel in Castleton, it’s best to choose your travel dates based on whether you’re most interested in seeing historic buildings, an exhibition, a performance or a particular event. Check dates and schedules before planning your stay.

Historic Castleton: Streetscape and Buildings

In Castleton Village, nearly all the houses and public buildings in the Federal and Greek Revival styles are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Castleton’s Main Street is one mile long, shaded by trees and lined with historic houses. Most of the houses along the street were built between 1800 and 1840.

Individual buildings mark different points in time: the Higley House was built in 1810 and 1811. The Castleton Medical College Chapel was built in 1821 and still stands on the Castleton State College campus. The Old Cobbler Shop was acquired by the Castleton Historical Society in 1947 and converted into its first museum in 1954. This makes it possible to distinguish the architectural history of the early 19th century from the Old Cobbler Shop’s later history as a museum.

Collections and Culture on Campus

At the Higley House, you can see antiques, furnishings donated by local families, and artifacts related to early sports, agriculture, trade and commerce. There are also six historic carriages made locally. It’s worth checking the current exhibition before your visit.

On the Castleton campus, the Christine Price Gallery presents rotating exhibitions of student art as well as traveling exhibitions by nationally renowned artists. The campus’s Fine Arts Center houses the Casella Theater, the performance venue for Vermont State Castleton. It hosts theater productions, concerts and special events throughout the year.

VTSU Castleton theatre arts students stage four performances each academic year: a Mainstage musical and a Black Box performance in the fall, followed by a Mainstage play and another Black Box performance in the spring. If a particular show is the reason for your trip, check the schedule for your travel dates.

Seasonal Events and Getting Here

The open-air pavilion on the Castleton campus hosts an annual summer concert series. The Castleton Colonial Day Historic House Tour is also held annually and includes more than a dozen venues in the village. If you’re planning a stay around either event, check the date for your travel dates.

The Castleton campus also has a snowboard park and a skatepark. These facilities add two distinct sports to the historic and cultural offerings. You can board the Ethan Allen Express at Castleton station. Since schedules can change, check the service for your travel date before planning your arrival and departure.

Explore more destinations: Chittenden, Killington, Rutland, Mendon, Brandon, Danby, Shrewsbury.

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