Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home - Manchester, Vermont
April 12, 2009 2:43 pm USAThis Georgian Revival mansion was built in 1905 by Robert Todd Lincoln who was the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. He became a wealthy businessman as the Chairman of the Pullman Palace Car Company which was the largest manufacturing corporation at the turn of the 20th century. The Lincoln Family home remained in the family until 1975.
Situated on 412 acres of beautiful Vermont landscape the mansion has gardens, trails, woods and a farm for you to enjoy on your Vermont vacation. You can take a hike in the woods and read the interpretive signs that tell about the plants and trees that are in the area. Visit the farm and see the animals that are kept there. Check out the 1,000 pipe organ that is in the entrance hall which is believed to be the oldest residential pipe organ with a player attachment still in its original location and still working in the United States.
Enjoy a stroll through the formal gardens near the mansion. The gardens were designed in 1907 for Mary Harlan Lincoln by her daughter, Jessie. It resembles a Gothic cathedral stained glass window. There are still 1,000 of the original peonies that blossom in mid-June to add their beautiful color to the garden.