JOIN US IN LEARNING ABOUT THIS REMARKABLE CHAPTER OF VERMONT HISTORY!
The Champlain Valley of Vermont, New York, and Quebec was at the center stage of world history in the late 17th & 18th centuries. Long before this, for almost 500 generations, the lake served as homeland, transportation artery, boundary, and sacred place for Iroquoian and Abenaki peoples. Nearly 400 years ago, Samuel de Champlain "discovered" the lake that he named after himself, and from that point on political and cultural transformations began.
Alliances that existed among Native peoples of northern New England and Canada play key roles in the period's historic rivalry between the French and British to control the region. The Valley became a battleground, both symbolic and real, and key events in the region forever changed the history of the New World and the globe.
It was also a place where people from France, at first, and then Britain, lived and traded with the already well-established residents: the Abenaki and Haudenosaunee (known to many as the Iroquois). Many contemporary traditions are connected to this diverse cultural heritage. The Quadricentennial of Champlain's arrival will be commemorated in 2009.
The heritage of those cultures who have lived in the region since long before Champlain arrived are not widely understood. Neither is the new era begun in 1609. This project proposes to fill those voids, and to inspire communities to learn about links between their own local area and world and national history. It is designed to bring history home, working from the local, participatory level up to a broader audience.
Through the community-based, "hands-on" archaeological survey and field investigations of French settlements, creation of 21st-century web-based teaching/learning tools, and a television documentary chronicling stories from the 17th and 18th centuries about the lake region's diverse people and amazing places, this project will offer our region's residents multiple voyages of discovery and will bring history to our doorsteps. In the process, the partners hope to encourage historic preservation projects in this internationally significant place and conservation of its abundant natural resources.
More Information
For more information about the Lake Champlain Voyages of Discovery project and how it aims to bring history home, visit the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation's website.
Discover Vermont's Rich History
Vermont is not only known for its natural beauty, but also for its rich historical heritage. From the early settlements of Native American tribes to its role in Revolutionary War history, the state offers a wealth of historical landmarks and stories waiting to be explored.
Uncover History in Charming Hotels
When visiting Vermont to immerse yourself in its fascinating history, choose from a variety of charming hotels that blend modern comfort with historic charm. Stay in beautifully restored Victorian-era inns or cozy boutique hotels that embody the essence of Vermont's architectural and cultural heritage.
Preserving the Past, Enjoying the Present
By supporting initiatives like the Lake Champlain Voyages of Discovery project and choosing to stay in heritage hotels, you can actively contribute to the preservation and celebration of Vermont's unique history. Explore the stories of the past while enjoying the comfort and hospitality of Vermont's historic accommodations.
Stowe
- Green Mountain Inn
- Awol Stowe
- Field Guide Lodge
- Trapp Family Lodge
- Topnotch Resort
- Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
- The Stowehof
- Northern Lights Lodge Stowe
- Commodores Inn
Burlington
- Doubletree By Hilton Burlington Vermont
- Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Vt
- Best Western Burlington Vt
- Comfort Inn Burlington Vt
- Delta Hotel Burlington Vt
- Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain
- Homewood Suites Burlington Vt
- Sonesta Burlington Vt
- Green Mountain Suites
- Southside Inn
- Courtyard By Marriott Burlington
Manchester
- Hampton Inn Manchester Vt
- Aspen Manchester
- Equinox Golf Resort & Spa Reviews
- The Reluctant Panther
- Econo Lodge Manchester Vt
- The Palmer House Resort