Marsh Billings National Historical Park

Marsh-Billings National Historical Park, encompassing the historic Billings/Rockefeller Farm and Estate in Woodstock, Vermont, is the first unit of the National Park System to focus on the theme of conservation history and the changing nature of land stewardship in America. The Park is a gift to the people of the United States from Laurance S. and Mary F. Rockefeller.

Mary French Rockefeller was the granddaughter of Frederick Billings who created the estate in the late 19th century. Frederick Billings' estate included a progressive dairy farm and professionally managed forest, improvements that were significant in a region severely depleted by deforestation and overgrazing. Billings' efforts were influenced by the writer and conservationist, George Perkins Marsh, who earlier had grown up on the property. In his landmark book Man and Nature, first published in 1864, Marsh described the spreading ecological destruction of the American countryside and argued for a new ethic of responsible stewardship.

The Park today is a cultural landscape with a high degree of historic integrity dating from the Billings era. It reflects the continuity of more than a century of careful management by Billings and Rockefeller heirs. It is also a place for interpretation of the historical contributions of George Perkins Marsh and Frederick Billings to both the theory and practical application of land stewardship principles, as well as interpretation of the more recent contributions of Laurance S. Rockefeller to American conservation and the National Park System.

Marsh-Billings National Historical Park is managed as a partnership between the National Park Service and The Woodstock Foundation, which operates the Billings Farm & Museum located on private land within the boundaries of the park. The adjoining Museum manages the farm as both a historic site and a working dairy farm. With an audience of nearly 60,000 visitors and schoolchildren annually, the Billings Farm & Museum interprets current and historic dairying practices, as well as the historical relationships of rural farm culture and the stewardship of working landscapes and countryside.

Marsh-Billings National Historical Park and the Billings Farm & Museum are uniquely positioned to demonstrate and interpret a conservation philosophy that evokes a strong sense of place, created and sustained by human activity and stewardship. This vision of stewardship is one that is respectful of natural processes and cultural traditions and is relevant to community needs. The park also works through a network of partnerships and outreach initiatives to highlight and encourage the best thinking and practice in conservation stewardship, with a particular focus on Vermont and the role stewardship can play in shaping the future of communities and landscapes.

Operating Hours, Seasons:
Marsh-Billings NHP is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., June 6-October 15. The Billings Farm & Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May 1-October 31.

Fees, Costs, Rates:
Marsh-Billings NHP:
There is no general entrance fee. Guided tours of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller mansion, the grounds and gardens of the mansion, and the Mount Tom forest are available. A fee of $5/adults and $3 for children under 16 are charged for tours of the mansion and grounds. No fee is charged for tours of the Mount Tom forest.

Billings Farm & Museum:
A general admission fee is charged for entrance to the Billings Farm & Museum: $7 for adults; $6 for Seniors 65 and over; $5.50 for students ages 13 to 17; $3.50 for children ages 5 to 12; $1 for children ages 3 to 4; and no admission charge for children under age 3. Special rates for groups of 10 or more are available with advance reservation. Major credit cards are accepted.

Accessibility:
Public parking for persons with disabilities is available at the Billings Farm & Museum parking area. For visitors taking guided tours, a special pass may be obtained in order to park within close proximity of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller mansion.

Visitor Opportunities

Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Visitor information, exhibits, audiovisual programs, and a museum shop are currently available at the Billings Farm & Museum Visitor Center. Visitors can purchase tickets from a menu of program options including admission to the Billings Farm & Museum, mansion and grounds tours, and other activities available throughout the park.

Climate, Recommended Clothing:
Spring, summer, and fall seasons are temperate. Winter season may be harsh with periodic snow and cold.

Programs/Activities:
Visitors to Marsh-Billing NHP can explore an extensive network of carriage roads and trails through one of the nation's oldest continuously managed forests, established by Frederick Billings in the 1880s on the deforested flanks of Mount Tom. Guided tours and public programs are offered on the history of the forest and larger estate landscape with a special focus on conservation history and the stewardship of working landscapes and countryside. Hiking, nature study, and cross-country skiing are recreational activities available to forest visitors.

Guided tours of the 19th century Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller mansion feature landscape paintings by Thomas Cole, Albert Bierstadt and Asher B. Durand, as well as artists and photographers who in their day helped to shape popular perceptions of the environment. Guided tours of the mansion's gardens and grounds traverse nearly a century of garden history and explore the influence of forest conservation on the Billings estate landscape. Guided tours of the Mount Tom forest follow historic carriage roads through some of the oldest planned forest stands in North America, tracing the early evolution of forest stewardship.

The Billings Farm & Museum is a museum of rural Vermont life featuring a working dairy farm where visitors can learn about the science of modern dairying, as well as the achievements of Frederick Billings 19th century farm operation. Extensive farm life exhibits use artifacts, oral histories, and photographs to depict the seasonal round of activities that shaped the lives and culture of rural Vermonters. The 1890 Farm House, restored and furnished to its 19th century heydey, served as the hub of the farm and forestry operation a century ago and features the farm office, family living quarters, creamery, and ice house.

Lodging and Camping Facilities:
Overnight lodging and camping are found within close proximity to the park. From June through mid-October, a town information booth on the Woodstock Village Green provides visitor maps, information on nearby attractions, and assistance with lodging. Year-round telephone is (802) 457-3555; toll free (800) 496-6378.

Food/Supplies:
A wide range of shops, galleries, restaurants, and groceries are located in the village of Woodstock.

Adjacent Visitor Attractions:
Marsh-Billing NHP is located in a renowned resort community which lies along the Ottauquechee River and near to numerous historical and recreational attractions. Within a 30-mile radius are the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, downhill and cross-country ski areas, state parks and forests, science and natural history centers, and historic sites including the Calvin Coolidge birthplace and home (Plymouth Notch, VT) and the Saint Gaudens National Historic Site (Cornish, NH).

Directions
The park is located on Vermont Route 12, 1/2 mile north of the Woodstock Village Green. Several northeastern cities are within 5 hours driving time of the park including New York City, NY (260 miles); Boston, MA (138 miles); and Burlington, VT (89 miles). The nearest AMTRAK station is located at White River Junction, VT.

From Boston and points East, take I-93 North to I-89 North. Follow I-89 through Lebanon, NH, into Vermont; take Exit 1/Route 4 West through Quechee and Taftsville to Woodstock (10 miles from Exit 1).

From Burlington and points North, take I-89 South to Exit 1/Route 4 West and continue through Quechee and Taftsville to Woodstock (10 miles from Exit 1).