Discover Castleton: History and Campus Life

Castleton combines a historic townscape with culture and campus activities. The houses and public buildings of Castleton Village tell the story of Federal and Greek Revival architecture; on campus, theater, art, and other offerings take center stage. There is also an annual village event and a range of ways to tailor your stay to your interests. When planning a vacation rental in Castleton, it is therefore worth deciding first whether historic streets, events, or campus life will be your main focus.

Historic Streets and Buildings

With its Federal and Greek Revival houses and public buildings, nearly all of Castleton Village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic Main Street is a mile long, shaded by trees, and lined with historic homes. Most of these homes were built between 1800 and 1840. This makes it possible to trace an extended period of the town’s history along a single stretch: many of its defining homes date from the first decades of the 19th century, while the street they share is still described as a historic streetscape today.

Individual buildings also bring local history to life. The Higley House was built in 1810 and 1811. It displays antiques, furnishings donated by local families, and artifacts related to early sports, agriculture, trade, and commerce. The collection also includes six historic carriages made locally. Since exhibits may change, check what is currently on display before your trip. The Castleton Medical College Chapel, built in 1821, still stands on the Castleton State College campus. The Old Cobbler Shop was acquired by the Castleton Historical Society in 1947 and converted into its first museum in 1954.

Theater, Art, and Campus Life

The Casella Theater is located in the campus Fine Arts Center and serves as a venue for Vermont State Castleton. Its year-round program includes theater productions, concerts, and special events. Theatre Arts students stage four performances each academic year: a Mainstage musical in the fall, a Mainstage play in the spring, and one Black Box performance each in the fall and spring. If you want to attend a particular performance, check the dates before you travel.

The Christine Price Gallery on the Castleton campus hosts rotating student art exhibitions as well as traveling exhibitions by nationally renowned artists. Outdoors, the campus pavilion hosts a concert series every summer. Together, these offerings provide different opportunities to enjoy art and live performances, from visiting an exhibition to attending a play or concert. A snowboard park and a skate park are also among the campus amenities. When choosing your travel dates, the specific event calendar is therefore just as relevant as the time of year.

Annual Event and Getting There

The Castleton Colonial Day Historic House Tour takes place annually and includes more than a dozen locations in the village. It offers a different focus from the ongoing theater program, highlighting the history of various homes in town. Check the specific event dates before planning your trip. From Castleton train station, you can take the Ethan Allen Express; since schedules may change, it is a good idea to check the connection for your intended travel day.

Which vacation rental in Castleton is right for you depends on which of the town’s attractions you would like to experience during your trip. For historic architecture, Main Street and the building history of Castleton Village offer a clear focus. If you are interested in performances, exhibitions, or concerts, you can plan your trip around the relevant dates. When traveling with children or in a group with different interests, it helps to prioritize the activities you want to include in advance rather than trying to fit everything into a single day’s itinerary.

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