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"Always grab the reader by the throat in the first paragraph,
sink your thumbs into his windpipe in the second, and hold him against the wall
until the tag line."
- Paul O'Neil
All Original Site Content
Copyright © 2003-2004
Phil Elmore, all rights reserved.
Bennington, VT
2004
A Travelogue
In the spring of 2004 my lovely wife and I decided to visit Bennington, Vermont. We had the urge to see the Green Mountain State and Bennington was very accessible to New York, being in the "lower left" corner of Vermont. If I remember correctly it took roughly three hours to drive there. We were struck by the way the scenery changed almost immediately after crossing the border between NY and VT – suddenly everything around us looked more pleasant, more "rustic," and noticeably less like the tired string of parking lots that is the Empire State.
As we drove into Bennington we noticed the looming tower that is the Bennington Battle Monument. At first I thought maybe it was an airport structure, or something. I knew little about Bennington at that point and had not expected anything quite so imposing. We drove out to the monument and were delighted to find that we could tour the tower itself.
The author (inset) gestures towards the Bennington
Battle Monument, which looms high above.
The Battle Monument commemorates a significant Revolutionary War engagement in 1777. It reminds me very much of the Washington Monument. Guests may enter the monument and travel by extremely rickety elevator to an observation level, from which a spectacular view of Vermont and its neighboring states is offered. Labels set within the walls tell you into which state you're gazing.
Bennington itself is a lovely town, with plenty of picturesque buildings and a quaint downtown full of little shops.
The view entering Bennington. Could the day have
been more beautiful?
Entering downtown. The church at left was of
beautiful gray stone.
We drove around town for a bit exploring before we decided to do what every tourist must do in the area – visit a covered bridge. There are several that can be found locally. We found the nearest one, pulled over in the thoughtful spot created just for taking pictures of the bridge, and then drove through.
A covered bridge in Bennington, Vermont.
We had lunch at the famous Blue Benn, a genuine diner manufactured in New Jersey in the 1940s. It's cramped, looks a little run down, and is not the most comfortable place for waiting (first come, first served, on the honor system). The food, however, makes all this worthwhile. Known for its vegetarian menu as well as its more traditional fare, the Blue Benn provided us with a delicious repast that included homemade fries.
The famous Blue Benn diner in Bennington.
After lunch we made our way to the Bennington museum, which – as you might expect – is full of Vermont art and artifacts from Vermont's history. There is a Grandma Moses gallery (pictures are not allowed there) that we enjoyed, too. Grandma Moses had a very cheerful style and her paintings convey a thoughtful but lighthearted mood.
The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont.
Outside the museum is a statue that is supposed to represent "The American Spirit" – but which looks like, forgive me, Abraham Lincoln receiving favors from a subjugated woman and child.
I realize this statue is supposed to represent high
ideals, but look at it.
There's more to the travelogue!
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