By Ahmad Yassir, Vermont Country Magazine.
The Park-McCullough in North Bennington has long been a jewel of Southern Vermont. The house, completed at the end of 1865 and now a museum open to the public, is one of New England’s most significant and best-preserved Gilded Age mansions. Yet, as the organization’s Museum Director, Polly Raine, and Director of Philanthropy, Mike Rice, explain, celebrating the 160th season at the Park-McCullough is about past, present, and future.
“This year we’re opening the house to everyone, offering free admission for all,” Rice said. “We invite local residents and visitors alike to come explore this special place, view new exhibits, and become a part of this cornerstone of Southern Vermont community life.” The museum will be open and free to visit from May 22 – October 19, Friday – Monday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
A Collaboration Brings a New Exhibition and a Fresh Look at History
The 2026 season brings a new collaboration with Bennington College Professor Tilly Grimes and the students in two courses, in historical dress and exhibition design, offered during this spring semester. The students have been working onsite at the Park-McCullough to research and archive 19th century garments from the museum’s collection, and a new exhibit designed in collaboration with the students and centered around the museum’s collection of handwork and stitched craft, will be on view throughout the 2026 season.
Digital Access and Interactive Experiences
2026 also marks a digital evolution for the Park-McCullough. The museum is going virtual with a robust presence on Bloomberg Connects, an app that offers audio tours and interactive content. “It’s great, because it offers both an enhanced experience when you’re visiting the house and grounds, with stories and audio recordings detailing specific rooms, artifacts, and outdoor features, and it also makes it possible to interact with the house, grounds, and collections virtually from anywhere,” Raine said.
A Unique Setting for Private Events
The Park-McCullough continues to serve as a unique setting for weddings, memorials, anniversaries, corporate events, and other gatherings, with both indoor and outdoor spaces available. “It’s meaningful for people to celebrate these moments in a place steeped in history and beauty,” Raine notes. Spaces available for private events include the mansion and its expansive veranda, formal gardens, serene grounds, and historic carriage barn which has been thoughtfully updated to include a modern catering kitchen, restrooms, heat, and air conditioning.
The Front Porch for the Community
For decades, the Park-McCullough has been a gathering place, but this year the mansion is truly embracing this identity as the “Front Porch for the Community.” The effort formalizes initiatives like the Community Archives, which collects memories, photographs, stories, and documents from locals with ties to the property.
“We’re trying to capture experiences, whether it’s from neighbors, descendants, people who worked the land, or folks who have attended events here, and then share them back with the community to ensure the stories we tell capture as many perspectives as possible,” Raine said.
The Park-McCullough supports and invites the community to engage with the house and grounds in many ways. From the croquet league and yoga classes on the lawn during the summer, to the lineup of concerts, theater performances, and readings hosted in collaboration with community partners, there is always something happening at the Park-McCullough.
Making History Relevant
For Raine and Rice, the 160th season is a balancing act: honoring the rich past of this special place while making it relevant for the present, and sustainable for the future. “We’re constantly thinking about how to connect people to this space,” Rice said. “Through free admission, digital content, new exhibitions, inclusive storytelling, and community partnerships, we hope the Park-McCullough continues to feel alive, not just as a relic of the past but as an integral part of our Southern Vermont community.”
Raine adds, “Our programming is designed to bring people together, whether it’s through history, theater, art, nature, a celebratory gathering or a peaceful walk on the grounds. This is a living place, an incredible opportunity for visitors to learn about the history of our region, and a part of the community fabric. 2026 is about celebrating all of that.”
Visitors can experience the mansion in person at 1 Park St., North Bennington, VT, or explore upcoming programming and events online at www.parkmccullough.org.
The Park-McCullough is a museum open to all at no charge, a classroom, a community front porch, a virtual portal, and a gathering place, welcoming everyone to share in 160 years of history, community, and connection.
