Manchester

Introducing Manchester

Manchester has been a fashionable resort town for almost two centuries. These days, the draw is mostly winter skiing and upscale outlet shopping (there are more than 100 shops). From mid-September to mid-November one of Vermont’s biggest fall festivals, the Stratton Arts Festival, an arts and crafts extravaganza showcasing works by Vermont artists, takes place at nearby Stratton Mountain.

Two families put Manchester on the map. The first was native son Franklin Orvis (1824–1900), who became a New York businessman but returned to Manchester to establish the Equinox House Hotel (1849). Franklin’s brother, Charles, founded the Orvis Company, makers of fly-fishing equipment, in 1856. The Manchester-based company now has a worldwide following.

The second family was that of Abraham Lincoln (1809–65). His wife Mary Todd Lincoln (1818–82) and their son Robert Todd Lincoln (1843–1926) came here during the Civil War, and Robert returned to build a mansion – Hildene – a number of years later.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009