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Highest-rated museums in Vermont by visitors

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Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.

With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Vermont on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#30. Old Red Mill Craft Shop and Museum

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#30. Old Red Mill Craft Shop and Museum

- Rating: 4.3/5 (43 reviews)
- City: Jericho
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#27. Museum of Everyday Life

Tripadvisor

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#27. Museum of Everyday Life

- Rating: 4.8/5 (25 reviews)
- City: Glover Northeast Kingdom
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#22. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

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#22. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (135 reviews)
- City: Vergennes
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#19. Bread and Puppet Theater

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#19. Bread and Puppet Theater

- Rating: 4.6/5 (65 reviews)
- City: Glover Northeast Kingdom
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#18. Norman Rockwell Exhibition

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#18. Norman Rockwell Exhibition

- Rating: 4.5/5 (87 reviews)
- City: Arlington
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#17. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center

Tripadvisor

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#17. Brattleboro Museum & Art Center

- Rating: 4.4/5 (92 reviews)
- City: Brattleboro
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#15. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

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#15. St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (118 reviews)
- City: Saint Johnsbury Northeast Kingdom
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Frog Hollow Craft Center

Tripadvisor

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#14. Frog Hollow Craft Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (111 reviews)
- City: Burlington
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#13. Vermont Historical Society Museum

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#13. Vermont Historical Society Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (110 reviews)
- City: Montpelier
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#12. Manchester Designer Outlets

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#12. Manchester Designer Outlets

- Rating: 3.9/5 (176 reviews)
- City: Manchester
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Southern Vermont Arts Center

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#10. Southern Vermont Arts Center

- Rating: 4.5/5 (144 reviews)
- City: Manchester
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium

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#8. Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium

- Rating: 4.4/5 (176 reviews)
- City: Saint Johnsbury Northeast Kingdom
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. ECHO Leahy Center For Lake Champlain

Tripadvisor

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#5. ECHO Leahy Center For Lake Champlain

- Rating: 4.0/5 (583 reviews)
- City: Burlington
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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