Friends of the Vermont State House
Conservation,
Restoration & and art acquisition
The Friends is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization, begun in 1980, to advocate for and help to fund the restoration and conservation of the building.
The Friends work closely with the State Curator's Office to acquire art and artifacts to enhance the Vermont State House. We acquired several new paintings in 2025 and gifted them to the State of Vermont. We will be unveiling a portrait of Representative Louvenia Bright in May, which the Friends will gift to the state.
Interpretation & Education
Nearly 150,000 visitors from throughout the world and Vermont visit the State House each year. Docent-led tours are available to visitors for free from July through October. Self-guided tours are available year-round. Vermont Schoolchildren visit the state house to learn about the building and observe the Vermont state government legislate according to the democratic process.
Some of our favorite things...
Louvenia Bright Portrait Unveiling
Unveiling of a portrait of former
REP. LOUVENIA DORSEY BRIGHT
Vermont’s first woman legislator of color
by Ayana Ross
May 5, 2026 at 4pm / House Chamber
Reception to follow in the Cedar Creek Reception Room.
Vermont History Day 2026
Friends of the Vermont State Sponsored the
2026 Freedom and Unity Civics Prize.
The Friends of the Vermont State House will award prizes to the projects that best express the spirit
of the Vermont motto – Freedom and Unity – as practiced in an open government and with civic
engagement for all people. A prize of $200 will be awarded to one project in each age division,
junior and senior. The money will be distributed evenly among group members.
This prize is awarded in memory of two civics education advocates, Bill Haines and Jack Carter
Friends’ Gift Shop
Our winter shop is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11-1.
Located adjacent to the cafeteria in the State House. The shop offers ties, scarves, lapel pins, flags and gift items. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Vermont State House.
Look for us in Room 1 at the State House this summer. We will be open five days a week.
The State Curator's office and Friends of the Vermont State House began restoring the State House to its nineteenth century style in the 1980s. It has been constantly evolving and contains many treasures. The State House is open to all and we encourage you to take a guided tour to see and hear about the important artifacts that make up Vermont's history as a state.
