Discover the fascinating history of Brattleboro, Vermont on a guided walking tour. Explore Main Street, visit historic sites, and enjoy a private tour of the iconic Latchis Theater. Join us for a fun and educational experience while supporting local scholarships and charitable projects.
- Plaza Park - The tour begins at Plaza Park (across from the Brattleboro Museum & Arts Center and the Brattleboro Co-op) where we talk about the Abenaki Native Americans, the colonial days, and the founding of Brattleboro. We also talk about William Brattle.
- Latchis Theater - A short private tour of the Latchis theater - a unique art deco building in the heart of downtown. This is a movie theater as well as a performing arts venue. Wait until you see the ceiling!
- Elliot Street - After the Latchis, we travel to Elliot Street where we talk about the Water Cures, Total Loss Farm and the Common Ground Restaurant. This is now a bustling street in Brattleboro.
- The Brooks House - From Elliot Street, we travel up Main Street and stop at the Brooks House and talk about the 1870s reconstruction of Brattleboro. We also talk about Rudyard Kipling’s time in Brattleboro and the struggles of 2011 in downtown.
- Centre Congregational Church - Outside the Congregational Church we talk about the Estey Organ Company. The Centre Church steeple holds an interesting story as well.
- Wells Fountain - After a stop overlooking the Connecticut River, we travel up to Wells Fountain where we discuss Jubilee Jim Fisk. You can also see an important (recent) art installation here.
- Brattleboro Common - Our last stop is at the Brattleboro Commons where we discuss the Vermont Republic, the civil war and the Brattleboro Retreat. This is where the tour will end, after which you are free to explore town at your leisure. Art galleries, book stores, great restaurants and boutique shops make Brattleboro quite unique for such a small town!
- Tour of downtown Brattleboro
- Visit to Latchis Theater
The Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club volunteers have developed an engaging historical walking tour of downtown Brattleboro as a fundraising event. An excellent start to understanding Brattleboro, Vermont’s rich history, the tour traverses from one tip of Main Street to the other, covering almost 7/10 of a mile. The walk includes around 7 significant stops where Brattleboro’s historical and cultural aspects are discussed. The tour is estimated to take around 1.5 hours and features an exclusive tour of the distinct Latchis Theater. Although children can attend, the tour is primarily tailored to adults.
The proceeds from this event are channeled towards the Brattleboro Sunrise Rotary Club’s various scholarship initiatives and benevolent efforts aimed at benefiting the local community.
Please note that as the tours predominantly take place outdoors on chosen Saturdays, they may be subject to cancellation due to extreme weather conditions.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.