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Vergennes was Vermont's first city, 1788, and bills itself as America's smallest city. It is certainly the state's smallest city, only two square miles in size, with a population of 2,700 – and one of the prettiest downtowns around.
Here you'll find the elements of both a vital city and neighborly town. The City Hall and Opera House, constructed in 1897, is still the center of Vergennes' business and cultural life. The beautifully restored, acoustically superb Opera House presents a year-round schedule of jazz, opera, folk, classical and theater performances, as well as monthly silent movies.
City Park, in the center of the downtown, hosts Monday evening summer band concerts, community festivals, such as Vergennes Day in late August, and encourages strolling on a summer's evening. The park serves as the location for a farm and craftsperson market from May through October.
Within the three-block downtown traditional businesses mix with the new, including an authentic French bistro. Main Street's exceptional architecture and eye-catching window displays entice people to stop and explore. Vergennes strives to be a friendly, welcoming place. "The town has a good feel to it," says city manager Randy Friday.
It is a very walkable community, too. A detour down the sidewalk-lined side streets takes one past houses that speak of the city's 19th century prosperity. A walk past the stately Federal homes, Greek Revival cottages, and Mansard-roofed and bracketed dwellings, is like stepping back into the Victorian era. A downtown stroll should also include an exploration of these neighborhoods.
A walk down Main Street brings you by the classic revival library and commercial blocks built more than 150 years ago of local stone. Revitalization has attracted lively, new, locally owned shops and restaurants to become neighbors of deep-rooted Vergennes businesses.
On your next trip to Vermont why not schedule a trip downtown in our "smallest city."
Attractions near Vergennes downtown include:
- Vergennes Opera House, www.vergennesoperahouse.org
- Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vergennes, www.lcmm.org
- Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh, www.rokeby.org
- Chimney Point State Historic Site, Addison, www.historicvermont.org, Chimney Point page
- Button Bay State Park, www.vtstateparks.com/htm/buttonbay.cfm
- Frog Hollow State Craft Center, Middlebury, www.froghollow.org
For more area attractions and events visit the Mid Vermont Website (www.midvermont.com) and other information on this area.
Information: Vergennes Partnership, Inc., 802-877-6340, email:liz@vergennespartnership.org
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