Visit Stowe Historical Society

The Stowe Historical Society is located in historic village of Stowe, Vermont. Stowe situated on the Waterbury River (Little River) between Mt. Mansfield on the west and the Worcesters on the east. Stowe boasts one of the better alluvial plains in northern Vermont. Chartered in 1763 and settled in 1794 by Oliver Luce and family, it has supported forest industries, sheep and dairy farming, recreation including some of the earliest Alpine skiing in Vermont and lodging from its earliest days to the present.

In 1955 members of some of the oldest families in Stowe and other townspeople came together to record and preserve the past, for the sake of the future. Motivating them was the fear that if they did not act, Stowe's rich historical legacy would be lost to future generations. The town was changing, people were arriving from other places to open lodges, shops and work in the developing alpine ski business on Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. The Stowe Historical Society was founded with the help of the Vermont Historical Society. In the museum is a repository of books, letters, journals, maps, drawings, and photographs about Stowe, Vermont and Vermont history.  The collection contains artifacts brought home 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 Society was chartered in 1956.

1763

Stowe Chartered

Chartered in 1763 and settled in 1794 by Oliver Luce and family, Stowe has supported forest industries, sheep and dairy farming, recreation including some of the earliest Alpine skiing in Vermont and lodging from its earliest days to the present.

1932

Stowe Ski club founded

Later incorporated as the Mt. Mansfield Ski Club. Roland Palmedo, member of the New York Amateur Ski Club, formulates plans to develop Mt. Mansfield. With friend, Lowell Thomas, Palmedo cut the first trails on the mountain, using Civilian Conservation Corps for manpower and equipment.

1956

Historical Society Founded

The Stowe Historical Society was founded with the help of the Vermont Historical Society. Today it is one of the state's largest not-profit repository of books, letters, journals, maps, drawings, and photographs about Stowe, Vermont and Vermont history.