Adapting Billings Farm & Museum as a Heritage Gateway Destination: A Comprehensive Exhibit and Program Plan

FAIN: BP-50088-08

Billings Farm & Museum (Woodstock, VT 05091-4570)
David A. Donath (Project Director: January 2008 to October 2012)

Planning for reinstallation of a permanent exhibition at Historic Billings Farm and development of accompanying public and educational programs and audio tours interpreting Vermont's rural heritage.

The Billings Farm & Museum (BF&M), Woodstock, Vermont, seeks support to advance creative development of its Heritage Gateway initiative: a five-year plan to extend its interpretation, programs, and identity to actively engage its historical landscape context. Billings Farm and the surrounding region of east central Vermont form an agrarian working landscape that encapsulates the story of the evolution of a "settled" traditionally Yankee rural society in Vermont after the Civil War through the late 20th century emergence of a "neo-rural" countryside. By broadening its operation, BF&M will fill the unmet need for a physical and intellectual portal to the state's historic and cultural geography. Humanities scholars, interpretive specialists, and creative consultants will collaborate with project staff on plans for the reinstallation of BF&M's permanent exhibition and revision of on-site tours and activities, plus the preliminary development of driving/walking audio tour programs.