Hildene

Hildene is an early 20th-century Georgian Revival residence in Manchester, Vermont, containing 24 rooms spread across several floors. The property covers roughly 412 acres (167 hectares) between the Taconic Mountains and the Green Mountains, with formal gardens and an extensive network of walking trails.

Robert Todd Lincoln, the only surviving son of President Abraham Lincoln, built this summer retreat in 1905 and spent time there until his death in 1926. His descendants occupied the house until 1975, after which a nonprofit organization converted it into a museum.

The restored 1903 Pullman car Sunbeam and the Many Voices exhibition mark Hildene as a stop on Vermont's African American Heritage Trail.

The site is accessible throughout the year, with guided tours through the interiors and open access to outdoor areas and trails. Winter transforms the grounds into a destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Inside stands a 1908 Aeolian pipe organ with 1,000 pipes, still played regularly for visitors. The grounds also host a working goat dairy that produces handmade cheese sold on-site.

Location: Manchester

Architects: Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge

Architectural style: Georgian architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.14040,-73.07940

Latest update: December 20, 2025 14:25