MarknRobin Making Memories: An Afternoon at the Farm

We crossed into New Hampshire to see the longest covered bridge in the United States. The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge, built in 1866, spans the Connecticut River between Vermont and New Hampshire. We had to go the long way around to see it from the New Hampshire side because our rig is too big to drive across it and there was no viewing spot to park on the Vermont side.

Cornish-Windsor Bridge

Cornish-Windsor Bridge viewed from Mt Ascutney

While we were there we got a call from Nathan. It was so nice to chat with him and find out how the family is doing. We love hearing news from home (hint:)

We crossed back into Vermont to see the Quechee Gorge on Hwy 4.

Pretty sure this is the Ottauquechee River above the dam where it flows down into the gorge.

The falls from the dam.

Quechee Gorge . . . The river flows 165 feet below the bridge on US 4 that spans the gorge.

We spent the afternoon at the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National historical Park. The park tells the story of the role these three families played in American conservation history and their commitment to promoting good stewardship of the land and sustainable forestry.

We took a ranger-guided tour of the beautiful 1800's Queen Anne-style Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion. In addition to the lovely woodwork and furnishings, there is also a priceless collection of American landscape paintings by renowned artists displayed throughout the home. Unfortunately, no photographs were allowed inside the mansion.

We also enjoyed touring the adjoining Billings Farm & Museum. Frederick Billings built the farm in 1871 with the goal of building "a farm and forestry operation that would serve future generations as a model of wise stewardship". We took a horse-drawn wagon ride, visited the sheep in the pasture and the Jersey cows being milked in the barn, toured the 1890 farm house, learned how butter was produced on the early dairy farm, and explored the rural & farm life exhibits in the museum.