Good morning and Happy Friday! As promised, here is part two of our visit to The Hildene Estate {The Lincoln Family Home} in Manchester, Vermont. Earlier in the week I shared the stunning gardens {both formal and informal} and gorgeous potting shed.
For those of you who didn’t catch the first blog post, Hildene, is the former summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife Mary Harlan Lincoln.
This grand estate which covers over 400 acres is located in Manchester, Vermont and I cannot recommend visiting enough. For an admission price of $23 per person you can take a self-guided tour of Robert and Mary’s home, the gardens, Hildene Farm, Pullman car Sunbeam, Dene Farm and about 12 miles of walking trails. We were there for over 3 hours and I feel like we didn’t even make a dent in all there was to see.
The HH and I are looking forward to visiting the estate again {maybe in late spring this time} as there is so much we didn’t get a chance to see the first time around. I think when we go back for our second visit, we’ll pack a picnic lunch and walk the trails as well as check out the Pullman car.
It’s funny, some properties you are drawn to and you just keep wanting to go back {Monticello comes to mind, and I think I’ve been there at least 8 times in the past 5 years!} Cogswell’s Grant is another one.
The Hildene Estate {The Lincoln Family Home} in Manchester, Vermont is a MUST SEE if you are in the area. I think I read somewhere that the home is something like 8,000 square feet. I was shocked when I read that because the home feels so intimate, and welcoming. It truly feels like a comfortable home {a grand home albeit there is room for a few servants, but still, it’s COZY} one that was built for a family to enjoy, and not at all the place you’d host lavish parties at.
The parlor. Note the lack of knick knacks.
The dining room. A table for 6!
Guest Bedroom on the main floor.
Robert Todd Lincoln’s bedroom.
Old leather trunk and golf shoes.
Closet with safe and luggage.
Robert Todd Lincoln’s library. {The velvet couch and chairs are just beyond his desk}.
Secretary’s office. 
What a view!
The kitchen. Tiny for an 8,000 square foot home if you ask me.
The icebox. It’s so small and makes me wonder what they kept in there. What was so precious that it needed to be refrigerated? Milk? Butter?
The Servant’s dining room. {Nice!}
The Butler’s bedroom.
Layout of the downstairs.
The grand staircase.
Mary Lincoln’s sitting room on the second floor. Perfect for afternoon tea, reading and needlework.
Mary’s bedroom.
And bathroom. {Small!}
My favorite room in the house! Closet? Mending room? Look at those built ins!
And back downstairs again to the entry room.
Darrrrling. The Hildene Estate in Vermont was fabulous. You must go for a visit! 😉
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
~Mavis
Hildene-The Lincoln Family Home
1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester, VT 05254
Brenda says
If you ever take a trip to Michigan, you would love Greenfield Village. Ford spent gazillions of dollars moving houses from all over the country & world to set up homesteads representing different types of “American Life” It’s a living museum so you see farmers working the fields with techniques from the 1800s, ladies making a “farm-lunch” for the family, etc. There is a windmill he had brought from the Netherlands, working cars to take rides in (model T), I think he had Edison’s lab moved there from Florida… My son’s class trip was there a couple years ago and I’ve wanted to go back to walk through it again as I’m sure I missed a lot the first time.
There’s something for everyone: homes and farms, technology and cars, a steam locomotive, animals, shops…
Jeanine says
My husband and I also enjoyed the Hidene Estate while touring around in New England two years ago. The Pullman Car is a must see. Lots of history to see and enjoy. Walk through the woods to see it. Have you gone to Mt Washington in New Hampshire and taken the Cog ride to the top. Another road trip for you to check out. Have a great weekend and stay warm and cozy in your beautiful house.
Gail C. says
You might consider getting a family membership at Hildene. The brochure on the website says it costs $100. That is almost what two visits for two adults would cost and, as a registered charity, the amount is probably tax deductible.
KCB says
If you have not already been, I recommend the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC.
Deb says
Thanks Mavis for sharing the pictures and information on the Hildene Estate. My husband and I usually vacation in Woodstock, Vt, but we are definitely planning a trip to Hildene this year. We love history and gardens, those gardens look beautiful! Thanks again for sharing!