Vermont - 2003
Updated: 11/30/08
Shelburne Museum (Shelburne, VT)
The Vermont Teddy Bear factory (Shelburne, VT)
Shelburne Museum (Shelburne, VT)
The museum is situated on 45 acres and includes 39 galleries and historical structures. Some of the buildings were moved from location in various parts of New England and reconstructed.
This sign summarizes the story of the museum's founder, Electra Havemeyer Webb.
This is what started her collecting.
A cigar store Indian.
The following photographs show, in our opinion, some of the more interesting items. They only scratches the surface of the multitude of items in the collection. If we show you a photograph of one of an item, there were probably many more of the item in the collection.
The
first structure we entered was the circus building. It is over 500 feet long and
display a hand carved miniature circus and circus parade. Opposite the circus
parade was a collection of carousel figures.
It is a collection of items small and large. This train station is from Shelborne VT 1890. the interior contained a collection of period items. The rail car was built in 1899 and used by the Rutland Railroad.
Irons ...
Wood planes ...
Straight razors ...
A straight razor for each day of the week ...
The collection of hat boxes, bonnets, and gentlemen's hats was most unusual. It was like many areas in the museum a 'no flash photography' zone. So, while the photograph using no flash or tripod is not good, it is included anyway to show these unique items.
Rooms of medicines and ointments containers ...
A hundred masterpiece quilts from the 18th, 19th and early 20th century.
A double lane covered bridge with foot path built in 1845 and moved from Cambridge VT. You can see the numbers used to identify the pieces to ease reassembly. It is often used for weddings - there was one scheduled for the next day.
The red, white and blue exhibit was on the second floor
of the 1783 Stagecoach Inn from Charlotte VT.
This 1809 stencil house was a farmer's family home in Shelburne. Many times the stenciling was done by itinerate artists in exchange for room and board.
The toy shop contained toys of all kinds - cast iron banks, dolls and more.
The
biggest single item must be the 1906 Ticonderoga side-wheel steamboat. It was
moved two miles overland from Shelburne Harbor.
The decks were very nicely restored to original grandeur. The Ticonderoga had a few staterooms for various classes of travelers. The upper crust paid three times the cheap rate - for its day, both were pricey.
The
pilot house had backup steering. If the cable method failed, the
steamboat was steered by steam.
The Horseshoe Barn contains a collection of over two hundred horse drawn carriages, wagons and sleighs. Forty-nine of them were owned by the Webb family and used at one of the many residences. This is a sample ...
The Electra Havemeyer Webb Memorial Building contains the
furnishings from her New York City home. On display are her paintings by Degas,
Monet, Manet and Cassatt.
The AAA tour book says to allow four hours minimum. The trolley
driver told us tour busses allow two hours. We spent nine hours over two days.
(A ticket cost $17.50 but is good for two consecutive days.) Wear comfortable
shoes!
>>> FYI ... Our campground provided coupons worth
$4.50 off the ticket price. We paid $13.00.
The Vermont Teddy Bear factory (Shelburne, VT)
This is the place where, they claim, the 'Best Bears in the Universe' are born. The tour offers a glimpse of the step-by-step creative process required to make jointed Teddy bears.
Their first five bears ...
Our tour included how they are stamped, sewn, stuffed and shipped.
(Inside out here)
The white disks are 'joints'.
Notice the air hole!
In the event there is an accident during production, medical care is available. This is also where bears returning for care under the lifetime warranty are treated.
All
bears are not alike. These two women are looking at ALL the bears to find the
one with the cutest face.
After
the final and best bear is found, clothing can be purchased.
In the Make a Friend for Life Factory nearby, you can select your bear's personality. You select the personality, and the staff fills your bear accordingly and a birth certificate is issued..
This grandma stitches
in the bear's personality.
While tours are provided on weekends, to see actual production
you must visit Monday through Friday. The tour lasts a half hour and the shopping
for the right bear and clothes can take a while. They will ship your purchase
anywhere in the world. Adult admission is $2.00, children 12 and under are free.
>>> FYI ... Our campground gave use coupons for free
admission.