Shelburne Farms

Shelburne Farms is a working educational farm in Shelburne, Vermont, along the shore of Lake Champlain. The property rolls across gentle hills and pastures where brown cows graze, and it includes barns, woodlands, and historic buildings.

The estate began in 1886 as a country retreat for Dr. William Seward Webb and his wife Eliza, whose father built railroads. The family later opened the property for teaching and founded a nonprofit that descendants still guide today.

The name recalls Shelburne Bay, which curves into the water in front of the property and once offered shelter to passing boats. Visitors today see groups of schoolchildren working in the gardens or learning in the barns how cheese comes to life.

Visitors can walk on paths through meadows and woods, and the barns are open to groups and individuals. In spring and fall, programs are especially lively when school classes arrive and animals graze outside.

The woodlands hold old trees managed under strict ecological rules that provide habitat for birds and wildlife. Cheese is made only from milk of the farm's own herd, and the recipes follow methods brought from Switzerland.

Location: Shelburne

Inception: 1972

Website: https://shelburnefarms.org

GPS coordinates: 44.39214,-73.25723

Latest update: December 20, 2025 11:51