Shelburne Farms

Shelburne Farms is an intentionally holistic farm experience. Designed not only to be operational and functional as a farm but also be a place for relaxing and connecting with nature. What once comprised of 32 farms, the 1,400 acres was acquired by William Seward Lila Vanderbilt Webb in late 1880’s who set out to design a model agricultural estate.

The land currently operates as a nonprofit environmental education center, with miles of trails, Brown Swiss dairly herd, cheesemaking facility, bakery, inn, woodworking shop, and educational facilities for children.Architect Federick Law Olmstead and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead can be credited for the work on the estate’s buildings and surrounding landscape planning. Olmstad designed the land to have three types of space: farm, forest and parkland. Trees were planted strategically to create “rooms” of large expanses and roads were strategically laid out to reveal different vistas and obscure others.

A farm this old, we were bound to see old things:

Prior to the invention of the automobile, horses were the main source of transportation and monile power (er, workhorse.) This breeding barn, was the largest of its kind to not only breed horse, but also showcase horses for sale and hold horse related events. Once the auto came into existence, the need for this barn quickly declined. The barn is currently in major repair and undergoing massive reconstruction. In the future, the barn will hold community and agricultural events.