J.S. Morrill Homestead (1848-51) – Entrance sign
Strafford, Vermont USA • The lifetime of Senator Justin Smith Morrill nearly spanned the 19th century, and many of the qualities that distinguish that American century were represented in the accomplishments of this self-educated native of Strafford, Vermont.
The son of a blacksmith, Morrill at the age of 15 had to leave school to work as a merchant’s clerk. He proved so successful that at the age of 38 he retired to devote his life to study and to the leisurely pursuits of a country gentleman.
The Morrill Homestead is an outstanding example of a Gothic Revival cottage. Designed and built by Justin Morrill before embarking upon his political career, he borrowed and adapted forms and details of the Gothic Revival to suit his own needs and vision.
Morrill was a serious student of landscape gardening as well. His designs are in the best traditions of the romantic landscape movement, formal yet Picturesque.
Senator Justin Smith Morrill's prominence, however, is not based on architecture and landscaping, but on his legislative accomplishments.
Inspired in large part by his own lack of a formal education, Morrill was the chief sponsor of the Land Grant Act, the most important educational legislation in the 19th century. The goal was to create a land grant college in each state to provide a liberal and practical education for farmers, mechanics, artisans and laborers.
The significance of the Land Grant Act was that it expanded higher education to include practical training in science, agriculture, and engineering, along with the classical studies traditionally offered only to clergymen, teachers, physicians and lawyers. – From the website of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Morrill was responsible for the Morrill Acts (1862, 1890), which provided for land grant colleges. He designed and constructed this Gothic Revival house in 1848-51, and retained ownership while in the Congress as a Representative (1855-67) and Senator (1867-98), and until his death in 1898. – From the NPS Statement of Significance.
☞ On September 22, 1960, the National Park Service designated this site a National Historic Landmark (#66000795) – the first in Vermont.
National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Today, fewer than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. – [And one of only 17 in Vermont.] – Working with citizens throughout the nation, the National Historic Landmarks Program draws upon the expertise of National Park Service staff who work to nominate new landmarks and provide assistance to existing landmarks.
National Historic Landmarks are exceptional places. They form a common bond between all Americans. While there are many historic places across the nation, only a small number have meaning to all Americans -- these we call our National Historic Landmarks. – from the National Park Service.
In July, 2010, I started a project to visit and document all seventeen Landmarks in Vermont. Here they are (in order of designation by the National Park Service):
[01] 09/22/60 – JUSTIN S. MORRILL HOMESTEAD, Strafford, Orange County
[02] 01/28/64 – TICONDEROGA (Side-paddle-wheel Lakeboat), Shelburne, Chittenden County
[03] 06/23/65 – CALVIN COOLIDGE HOMESTEAD DISTRICT, Plymouth Notch, Windsor County
[04] 12/21/65 – EMMA WILLARD HOUSE, Middlebury, Addison County
[05] 11/13/66 – ROBBINS AND LAWRENCE ARMORY AND MACHINE SHOP, Windsor, Windsor County
[06] 06/11/67 – GEORGE PERKINS MARSH BOYHOOD HOME, Woodstock, Windsor County
[07] 05/23/68 – ROBERT FROST FARM, Ripton, Addison County
[08] 12/30/70 – VERMONT STATEHOUSE, Montpelier, Washington County
[09] 11/28/72 – MOUNT INDEPENDENCE, Orwell, Addison County
[10] 12/20/89 – STELLAFANE OBSERVATORY, Springfield, Windsor County
[11] 11/04/93 – NAULAKHA (Rudyard Kipling House), Dummerston, Windham County
[12] 06/19/96 – OLD ROUND CHURCH, Richmond, Chittenden County
[13] 06/19/96 – ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENAEUM, St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County
[14] 12/09/97 – ROKEBY, Ferrisburgh, Addison County
[15] 05/16/00 – ROCKINGHAM MEETING HOUSE, Windham County
[16] 05/16/00 – SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY HALL, Barre, Washington County
[17] 01/03/01 – SHELBURNE FARMS, Shelburne, Chittenden County
= = = = = = = = =
☞ More photos of this and other National Historical Landmarks.
☞ Here's a link to an explorable GoogleMap with locations (and photos) of all seventeen sites in Vermont with National Historic Landmark designations.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
☞ On October 15, 1966, this site was added to the National Register of Historic Places (#66000795).
☞ This location is also one of 12 Vermont State Historic Sites, which are owned and administered by the U.S. State of Vermont's Division for Historic Preservation, a part of the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development. Vermont State Historic Sites reflect the cultural heritage of the state, and chronicle the state's history from earliest human settlement, through Native American tribes, French colonial settlement, the period of the Revolutionary War and Vermont Republic, two presidential birthplaces, a shipwreck, and covered bridges. – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Note: Locations marked with *** are also National Historic Landmarks, so designated by the National Park Service.
[01] CHIMNEY POINT, Addison
[02] HYDE LOG CABIN, Grand Isle
[03] EUREKA SCHOOLHOUSE, Springfield
[04] *** MOUNT INDEPENDENCE, Orwell
[05] Hubbardton Battlefield, Hubbardton
[06] *** SENATOR JUSTIN MORRILL HOMESTEAD, Strafford Village
[07] OLD CONSTITUTION HOUSE, Windsor: The first constitution in America to prohibit slavery, allow men to vote without requiring property ownership, and authorize a public school system was adopted here in Windsor, Vermont in 1777.
[08] *** CALVIN COOLIDGE Homestead, Plymouth Notch
[09] BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT, Bennington
[10] CHESTER A. ARTHUR HOMESTEAD, Fairfield
[11] UNDERWATER HISTORIC PRESERVES: Not all history happens on land. Lake Champlain, one of the nation’s most historic waterways, contains countless shipwrecks dating back to the 1700’s. These wrecks include military, commercial and private vessels—each providing a direct connection to the past. Today the state maintains five underwater historic sites for scuba divers—the Horse Ferry, the Phoenix, the Coal Barge, the General Butler and the Diamond Island Stone Boat. Each preserve is marked by yellow buoys with guidelines providing safe and easy access to the wrecks.
[12] COVERED BRIDGES: More than any other state, Vermont is known for its covered bridges. A total of 106 bridges remain, the roofs and walls continuing to protect the wooden trusses from rot and decay.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
• More info: The GeoHack for 43°51′46.4″N 72°22′33.4″W.
J.S. Morrill Homestead (1848-51) – Entrance sign
Strafford, Vermont USA • The lifetime of Senator Justin Smith Morrill nearly spanned the 19th century, and many of the qualities that distinguish that American century were represented in the accomplishments of this self-educated native of Strafford, Vermont.
The son of a blacksmith, Morrill at the age of 15 had to leave school to work as a merchant’s clerk. He proved so successful that at the age of 38 he retired to devote his life to study and to the leisurely pursuits of a country gentleman.
The Morrill Homestead is an outstanding example of a Gothic Revival cottage. Designed and built by Justin Morrill before embarking upon his political career, he borrowed and adapted forms and details of the Gothic Revival to suit his own needs and vision.
Morrill was a serious student of landscape gardening as well. His designs are in the best traditions of the romantic landscape movement, formal yet Picturesque.
Senator Justin Smith Morrill's prominence, however, is not based on architecture and landscaping, but on his legislative accomplishments.
Inspired in large part by his own lack of a formal education, Morrill was the chief sponsor of the Land Grant Act, the most important educational legislation in the 19th century. The goal was to create a land grant college in each state to provide a liberal and practical education for farmers, mechanics, artisans and laborers.
The significance of the Land Grant Act was that it expanded higher education to include practical training in science, agriculture, and engineering, along with the classical studies traditionally offered only to clergymen, teachers, physicians and lawyers. – From the website of the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.
Morrill was responsible for the Morrill Acts (1862, 1890), which provided for land grant colleges. He designed and constructed this Gothic Revival house in 1848-51, and retained ownership while in the Congress as a Representative (1855-67) and Senator (1867-98), and until his death in 1898. – From the NPS Statement of Significance.
☞ On September 22, 1960, the National Park Service designated this site a National Historic Landmark (#66000795) – the first in Vermont.
National Historic Landmarks are nationally significant historic places designated by the Secretary of the Interior because they possess exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States. Today, fewer than 2,500 historic places bear this national distinction. – [And one of only 17 in Vermont.] – Working with citizens throughout the nation, the National Historic Landmarks Program draws upon the expertise of National Park Service staff who work to nominate new landmarks and provide assistance to existing landmarks.
National Historic Landmarks are exceptional places. They form a common bond between all Americans. While there are many historic places across the nation, only a small number have meaning to all Americans -- these we call our National Historic Landmarks. – from the National Park Service.
In July, 2010, I started a project to visit and document all seventeen Landmarks in Vermont. Here they are (in order of designation by the National Park Service):
[01] 09/22/60 – JUSTIN S. MORRILL HOMESTEAD, Strafford, Orange County
[02] 01/28/64 – TICONDEROGA (Side-paddle-wheel Lakeboat), Shelburne, Chittenden County
[03] 06/23/65 – CALVIN COOLIDGE HOMESTEAD DISTRICT, Plymouth Notch, Windsor County
[04] 12/21/65 – EMMA WILLARD HOUSE, Middlebury, Addison County
[05] 11/13/66 – ROBBINS AND LAWRENCE ARMORY AND MACHINE SHOP, Windsor, Windsor County
[06] 06/11/67 – GEORGE PERKINS MARSH BOYHOOD HOME, Woodstock, Windsor County
[07] 05/23/68 – ROBERT FROST FARM, Ripton, Addison County
[08] 12/30/70 – VERMONT STATEHOUSE, Montpelier, Washington County
[09] 11/28/72 – MOUNT INDEPENDENCE, Orwell, Addison County
[10] 12/20/89 – STELLAFANE OBSERVATORY, Springfield, Windsor County
[11] 11/04/93 – NAULAKHA (Rudyard Kipling House), Dummerston, Windham County
[12] 06/19/96 – OLD ROUND CHURCH, Richmond, Chittenden County
[13] 06/19/96 – ST. JOHNSBURY ATHENAEUM, St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County
[14] 12/09/97 – ROKEBY, Ferrisburgh, Addison County
[15] 05/16/00 – ROCKINGHAM MEETING HOUSE, Windham County
[16] 05/16/00 – SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY HALL, Barre, Washington County
[17] 01/03/01 – SHELBURNE FARMS, Shelburne, Chittenden County
= = = = = = = = =
☞ More photos of this and other National Historical Landmarks.
☞ Here's a link to an explorable GoogleMap with locations (and photos) of all seventeen sites in Vermont with National Historic Landmark designations.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
☞ On October 15, 1966, this site was added to the National Register of Historic Places (#66000795).
☞ This location is also one of 12 Vermont State Historic Sites, which are owned and administered by the U.S. State of Vermont's Division for Historic Preservation, a part of the Vermont Agency of Commerce & Community Development. Vermont State Historic Sites reflect the cultural heritage of the state, and chronicle the state's history from earliest human settlement, through Native American tribes, French colonial settlement, the period of the Revolutionary War and Vermont Republic, two presidential birthplaces, a shipwreck, and covered bridges. – From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Note: Locations marked with *** are also National Historic Landmarks, so designated by the National Park Service.
[01] CHIMNEY POINT, Addison
[02] HYDE LOG CABIN, Grand Isle
[03] EUREKA SCHOOLHOUSE, Springfield
[04] *** MOUNT INDEPENDENCE, Orwell
[05] Hubbardton Battlefield, Hubbardton
[06] *** SENATOR JUSTIN MORRILL HOMESTEAD, Strafford Village
[07] OLD CONSTITUTION HOUSE, Windsor: The first constitution in America to prohibit slavery, allow men to vote without requiring property ownership, and authorize a public school system was adopted here in Windsor, Vermont in 1777.
[08] *** CALVIN COOLIDGE Homestead, Plymouth Notch
[09] BENNINGTON BATTLE MONUMENT, Bennington
[10] CHESTER A. ARTHUR HOMESTEAD, Fairfield
[11] UNDERWATER HISTORIC PRESERVES: Not all history happens on land. Lake Champlain, one of the nation’s most historic waterways, contains countless shipwrecks dating back to the 1700’s. These wrecks include military, commercial and private vessels—each providing a direct connection to the past. Today the state maintains five underwater historic sites for scuba divers—the Horse Ferry, the Phoenix, the Coal Barge, the General Butler and the Diamond Island Stone Boat. Each preserve is marked by yellow buoys with guidelines providing safe and easy access to the wrecks.
[12] COVERED BRIDGES: More than any other state, Vermont is known for its covered bridges. A total of 106 bridges remain, the roofs and walls continuing to protect the wooden trusses from rot and decay.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
• More info: The GeoHack for 43°51′46.4″N 72°22′33.4″W.