Historic Downtown

Manchester

Stores line a paved road with pedestrians walking and an American flag hanging in the foreground.
A statue of a soldier is visible against a cloudy sky.

MANCHESTER, Vermont

Nestled between the Green Mountain and Taconic ranges, Manchester is the North Shire town of Bennington County. Rich history runs through the region, with such luminaries as Norman Rockwell and Rudyard Kipling making their homes in the area. The Battenkill River wraps around Manchester, lending credence to the fly-fishing culture apparent throughout the town. Mount Equinox, the Taconics’ highest point at 3,850 feet, elevates the town’s skyline.

Manchester in the Summer

In the summer, Manchester comes alive with golf, hiking, swimming, and a beautiful scenic drive to the top of the Taconic Range. 

Winter in Manchester

In the winter, snowflakes swirl around Manchester’s beautiful historic downtown. Ice skating, skiing and riding, shopping downtown, and heading inside to take in the town’s art galleries and museums are all great ways to enjoy the season. 

A historic mansion seen from its garden under a bright blue sky.
The interior of a historic train car. Two seats face each other with wood paneled walls and floral carpet.

Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home

Built in 1907 by Robert and Mary Lincoln, son of the 16th U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Hildene served as a summer home for the Lincoln descendants through 1975, when it became a historic museum. The 412-acre estate features a Georgian revival mansion, a 1912 restored Pullman train car, a working goat dairy, and fabled peony gardens.

Indoor view of a music venue with wooden walls and ceiling, and stage for performers in the background.
A man plays a violin with sheet music on a stand in front of him.

Manchester Music Festival

July-August; check for specific performances

Chamber music lights up Southern Vermont Arts Center at this annual music festival, featuring string quartets, rising young artists, and performances that make classical music feel accessible, eliminating barriers between artists and audiences.

Eat, Shop, and Stay in Manchester

Dining

Dining

Shopping

Shopping

Lodging

Lodging

Transportation Options

For Manchester

Local Transportation

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Discover More

Trip planning resources with Manchester’s local downtown organization. 

Manchester Chamber about Discover More
A church steeple peeks out above a canopy of green, with a mountain backdrop.
A statue in Manchester, Vermont.
A museum exterior in fall.
A fishing display, tackle box.
A sculpture outside SVAC.
A sculpture outside a glass pane window.
A golf cart sits in front of an autumn scene at Hildene.
Sun shines on a preserved chordophone at Hildene.
A table setting with pie, fruit, and other objects, at Hildene.
Hildene historic object, Town & Country publication.
The interior of the Pullman Car.
An artistic, motion shot the Land Rover Experience, during autumn.