The Stowe Historical Society can be found in two one room school houses on School Street in Stowe Village, situated on the Waterbury River between Mt. Mansfield on the west and the Worcesters on the east. Stowe was chartered in 1763 and settled in 1794 by Oliver Luce and family. It has supported forest industries, sheep and dairy farming,lodging from its earliest days to the present and recreation, including some of the earliest alpine skiing in Vermont.

In 1955 members of the oldest families in Stowe and other townspeople came together to record and preserve the past, for the future.  Fear that if they did not act, Stowe's rich historical legacy would be lost.  The town was changing, timber industries were getting smaller, farms getting more mechanized and larger and people were arriving to take advantage of the developing alpine ski business on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak by creating additional housing for employees and lodging and eateries for visitors. 

With the help of the Vermont Historical Society, Stowe Historical Society was founded in 1956.   The historical collection contains books,letters, journals,maps, drawings and photographs about Stowe,VT and Vermont history, artifacts including military - from the Civil War and other military involvements, farm implements, domestic items, textiles and more -- items that shed light on life in Stowe from the early 19th century to recent times. 

The mission of the Stowe Historical Society is to collect artifacts, ephemera, sound and visual recordings, photographs, manuscripts, books, digitized information and other items that pertain to Stowe and its place in the county, state and beyond, to preserve two historic schoolhouses and promote our collection, housed within them, through display and commentary; to maintain our military collection in Memorial Hall of the Soldiers Memorial building, to disseminate information through traditional and social media, and to collaborate with community organizations, sharing resources and activities.

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