For questions or bookings of school and group tours please call or contact us via email. 
Books may still be purchased by calling or emailing.

We appreciate all of our volunteers and visitors who continue to keep HISTORY ALIVE!!!!!!! 

ANNOUNCEMENT

2008 ***SUMMER CAMPS *****

The Winooski Valley Park District welcomes summer
camps at the Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington.

YMCA

Dates TBA

The YMCA is offering four weeks of Nature Camps; three weeks for pre-school age children (3-5) and one week for school aged children (6-8). Children will experience gardening and explore forests, wetlands and meadows while they discover frogs, insects and more. Fun crafts, games and projects too.

For more information please visit: www.gbymca.org

THE FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

June 23rd - 27th.

The Flynn Center will offer two sessions of performing arts camp in June. "History Comes Alive" for ages 8-13 and "History Improv" for ages 8-13. The historic buildings and grounds of the Homestead set the stage for an exciting week of dramatic improvisation, and favorite scenes from the week will be performed for family and friends at the close of the session.

For more information please visit: www.flynncenter.org

VERMONT INSTITUTE OF NATURAL SCIENCE

June - August 2008

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science is offering Nature Day Camps with a wide range of curricula focused on promoting environmental stewardship thorugh hands-on, engaging activities. These activities will focus on campers' attention on the natural history of the Ethan Allen Homestead and its surrounding forest, river and open spaces. Each camp is designed to meet the specific development needs of participants. The camp is open to children in grades 1st-6th.

For more information please visit: www.vinsweb.org

 

Why did Ethan Allen call the Winooski River the "French River"?

In Ethan's day the Winooski/Onion River was also known as the French River because it had been used as a route to Deerfield and other areas in Massachusetts by the French and Indians between 1704 and 1759.
"Winooski" is an Abenaki name for wild onion, probably referring to the leeks that grew along the riverbanks.

What was the Onion River Land Company?

The Onion River Land Company was a partnership, originally of Ethan, his brothers Heman, Zimri, and Ira, and their first cousin Remember Baker.

The land-holding company, formed in 1773, bought land at the mouth of the Winooski (Onion River),in the intervale, and around the Winooski Falls from its New York owner, Edward Burling. The company purchased only New Hampshire Grant Lands, and owned a total of 65,000 acres in about 15 to 20 towns which constituted major land speculation at that time. The company was dissolved in May 1787; Ethan received 1400 acres of the intervale land in the settlement.