St. Johnsbury History
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St. Johnsbury, Vermont has a rich history, magnificent architecture, a strong cultural life, and fascinating people. This interactive map, sponsored by the Donchian Fund, is a wonderful guide to the town. Enjoy learning more about the one and only "St. Johnsbury."
St. Johnsbury Historic Walking Tour
Known for its Victorian architecture, St. Johnsbury has a new walking tour to highlight the beauty of its Main Street area. The tour was developed by the St. J Works organization, with the process led by Dr. Tom Turek.
“The tour is a wonderful way for people to experience the architectural treasures of St. Johnsbury,” says Turek. “The mid to late 1800s was a boom time in St. Johnsbury’s history, and the tour includes many of the best examples of the buildings from that period.”
Local institutions such as the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, the Fairbanks
Museum and Planetarium, and the St. Johnsbury Academy are all featured in the tour. But there are many lesser-known buildings included, as well. The oldest building on the tour is a residential home on Main Street built in 1801. It is one of the three oldest houses in St. Johnsbury. A stately mansion 
further down Main Street, built in 1874, was the home of the first president of Vassar College, Milo P. Jewett.
Bob Swartz, local historian, told the first tour group about the origin of the St. Johnsbury town common on Main Street. “It was originally the front yard to the Pearl House,” according to Swartz. “The town bought it from the Dana family for $1200, with the condition that no building ever be erected there.” Today, the property is a lovely park with a children’s play area.
The historic tour is organized around seven viewpoints, each marked with a.jpg)
bench from which you can see the buildings named at that viewpoint. Every building on the tour has a special plaque on it, designating it as part of the historic walking tour. There are two versions of the tour: a shorter tour with 24 locations and an expanded tour with 45 sites. The tour focuses on properties along Main Street, but several notable buildings in the expanded tour will take you onto side streets.
Brochures with a map of the Historic St. Johnsbury Walking Tour, as well as the expanded tour, are available for free at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and at the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center. Enjoy the history and grandeur of St. Johnsbury’s Victorian past at your own pace on the walking tour!
“The tour is a wonderful way for people to experience the architectural treasures of St. Johnsbury,” says Turek. “The mid to late 1800s was a boom time in St. Johnsbury’s history, and the tour includes many of the best examples of the buildings from that period.” Local institutions such as the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, the Fairbanks
Museum and Planetarium, and the St. Johnsbury Academy are all featured in the tour. But there are many lesser-known buildings included, as well. The oldest building on the tour is a residential home on Main Street built in 1801. It is one of the three oldest houses in St. Johnsbury. A stately mansion further down Main Street, built in 1874, was the home of the first president of Vassar College, Milo P. Jewett. Bob Swartz, local historian, told the first tour group about the origin of the St. Johnsbury town common on Main Street. “It was originally the front yard to the Pearl House,” according to Swartz. “The town bought it from the Dana family for $1200, with the condition that no building ever be erected there.” Today, the property is a lovely park with a children’s play area.
The historic tour is organized around seven viewpoints, each marked with a
bench from which you can see the buildings named at that viewpoint. Every building on the tour has a special plaque on it, designating it as part of the historic walking tour. There are two versions of the tour: a shorter tour with 24 locations and an expanded tour with 45 sites. The tour focuses on properties along Main Street, but several notable buildings in the expanded tour will take you onto side streets. Brochures with a map of the Historic St. Johnsbury Walking Tour, as well as the expanded tour, are available for free at the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and at the St. Johnsbury Welcome Center. Enjoy the history and grandeur of St. Johnsbury’s Victorian past at your own pace on the walking tour!