Museum ABCs: Making Faces - Exploring Portraits

Find faces young and old in the Museum galleries. What are the parts of a face? What makes one person’s face different from another’s? We’ll find the answers to these questions, share a story, and make silly portrait collages using the faces we found in the galleries. M......More

Find faces young and old in the Museum galleries. What are the parts of a face? What makes one person’s face different from another’s? We’ll find the answers to these questions, share a story, and make silly portrait collages using the faces we found in the galleries. Museum ABCs is a collaboration between Bennington Museum and the Bennington Free Library, designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. Siblings are welcome! Museum ABCs is FREE thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. Join us on the second Saturday of each month, April through November, for artwork, stories, and more! presented in partnership with the Bennington Free Library sponsored by additional support from

Michael Arnowitt: Piano Panorama

Vermont favorite, Michael Arnowitt, returns to the state to perform a piano concert of lively, evocative, and emotionally moving music. The program will feature a set of pieces by Debussy, including his prelude “The Interrupted Serenade” and a piano transcription of the......More

Vermont favorite, Michael Arnowitt, returns to the state to perform a piano concert of lively, evocative, and emotionally moving music. The program will feature a set of pieces by Debussy, including his prelude “The Interrupted Serenade” and a piano transcription of the orchestral music to the opening section of La Mer (The Sea). Other highlights of the program include music from the piano sonatas of the great Black American composer George Walker Olivier Messiaen’s “The Reed Warbler,” an excerpt from the composer’s Catalogue d’oiseaux (Catalog of Birds) evoking scenes of nature and bird song music by Prokofiev composed during World War II and the exciting finale to Bartok’s Piano Sonata, a spirited piece influenced by the folk melodies and rhythms of Bartok’s native Hungary. Arnowitt will also perform music from recent decades by composers from the UK, Ukraine, and Canada, and his own Bach-influenced composition “The Stream.”  Michael Arnowitt lived in central Vermont from 1985 to 2017 when he immigrated to Canada. He now lives primarily in Toronto but also lives part-time in Marshfield, Vermont. Michael Arnowitt is one of today’s most creative musicians. His extraordinary sense of touch at the keyboard, his abilities to find new articulations and colors from the piano, and his warm onstage personality have delighted audiences in concert halls around the world. Michael Arnowitt has given seven concert tours of Europe, performing in France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, and he has also given concert tours in Russia and Korea. He is the subject of the documentary film, Beyond 88 Keys, filmed in both the USA and Europe and available on Vimeo. He lives in Toronto, Canada where he moved in 2018 after living in Vermont for over 30 years.  The Washington Post said of a special piano concert Michael Arnowitt performed at the National Gallery of Art, “He played with an exquisite sense of touch, color and musical imagination.” Michael Arnowitt is currently working on a book of essays about music, What Makes Great Music Great, to be published by the Vermont-based Fomite Press.   In 2017, Michael Arnowitt was honored with a special legislative resolution by the Vermont House and Senate and a personal thank you in a meeting with the Governor of Vermont in recognition of his years of contributions to Vermont music. His musical activities in Vermont over the years included being the artistic director of the Vermont Millennium Music Festival, which was a 4-day gala of 24 concerts and special events  presenting music from the year 1000 to the year 2000 in chronological order. During his time in Vermont, Michael Arnowitt was the principal organizer for a number of major fundraisers to benefit humanitarian aid for Balkan and Syrian war refugees and relief efforts after Vermont hurricanes and floods, causing the Barre Times-Argus newspaper to comment in an editorial, “Arnowitt has shown once again that his conscience is every bit as impressive as his cadenzas.” Music at the Museum programs are presented at no charge, thanks to our generous sponsors,Alison Nowak and Robert Cane.

A Monument Society Event

Join Bennington Museum’s Executive Director for a tour of the Empire State Plaza Underground and then dinner at acclaimed Villa di Como in Albany. Shuttle from Bennington Museum available on a first come first serve basis. Sign Up Here!

Old Bennington and the Continental Storehouse

a Bennington Historical Society presentation In 1777, British General John Burgoyne sent troops toward Bennington to capture supplies held in a Continental storehouse, setting the stage for the Battle of Bennington.. In this presentation, historian Bob Hoar will explore......More

a Bennington Historical Society presentation In 1777, British General John Burgoyne sent troops toward Bennington to capture supplies held in a Continental storehouse, setting the stage for the Battle of Bennington.. In this presentation, historian Bob Hoar will explore the two most important men behind gathering those supplies: original Bennington settler, church deacon, and revolutionary Republican, John Fassett and Hamilton Federalist and future governor, Isaac Tichenor. Bob will also discuss the buildings that were used as storehouses and what became of them after the Battle of Bennington, as well as the history of the State Arms house – the Vermont Republic’s storehouse during the turbulent 1780s. Bob Hoar is a local historian who has embraced the complex stories of Colonial history. Bob has done many history presentations and events, worked at the Bennington Battlefield, and currently volunteers at the Bennington Battle Monument in the summer. You can find him on Facebook posting as Battle of Bennington. supported by

Museum ABCs: Trail Tale - If You Plant a Seed

Join us for a story on the George Aiken Wildflower Trail. When Rabbit and Mouse plant tomato seeds, they get tomatoes. When they plant carrot seeds, they get carrots. But when they plant the seeds of selfishness, they get a heap of trouble. What can they do to fix it? S......More

Join us for a story on the George Aiken Wildflower Trail. When Rabbit and Mouse plant tomato seeds, they get tomatoes. When they plant carrot seeds, they get carrots. But when they plant the seeds of selfishness, they get a heap of trouble. What can they do to fix it? Share Kadir Nelson’s beautifully illustrated story, If You Plant a Seed, with us, and plant a seed of your own to bring home. Museum ABCs is a collaboration between Bennington Museum and the Bennington Free Library, designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. Siblings are welcome! Museum ABCs is FREE thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. Join us on the second Saturday of each month, April through November, for artwork, stories, and more! presented in partnership with the Bennington Free Library sponsored by additional support from

Fiddle Tunes, Folksongs, and Fancy Footwork

Trish Miller and John Kirk Enjoy an afternoon of fiddle tunes, folksongs and fancy footwork with acoustic duo, John Kirk and Trish Miller. John is the primary vocalist and instrumental wizard on fiddle mandolin and more. Trish plays banjo, guitar and provides fancy foot......More

Trish Miller and John Kirk Enjoy an afternoon of fiddle tunes, folksongs and fancy footwork with acoustic duo, John Kirk and Trish Miller. John is the primary vocalist and instrumental wizard on fiddle mandolin and more. Trish plays banjo, guitar and provides fancy footwork with percussive dance steps. Together, this married couple has been working and teaching in upstate New York for over three decades. They present traditional tunes and witty songs with unique arrangements and plenty of chorus songs for the audience to sing along. In 2022 John was inducted into the North American (and New York) Fiddler’s Hall of Fame. The duo has twice been nominated for New York’s Capital Region Eddie Awards (2022 & 2023). Both are teaching music artists at Skidmore College, and John is part of the music faculty at Bennington College as well. Old time music is the basis for their repertoire, but they also like to mix in some originals, Celtic, early country songs, humorous selections and Appalachian clog dancing. Many songs and tunes are rooted in the local lore of the northeast woodlands. Their story-telling songs, poetic pieces, historical topics and contemporary folksongs make their shows fine entertainment for all ages. They have been given numerous grants for concerts and teaching including their selection by the US State Department to tour various cities in Eastern Europe, South Central America. In schools, John and Trish have conducted programs and residencies in music and dance heritage since the 1990’s. For many years they have taught and performed at summer music camps, museums, libraries, coffeehouses and more. From Carnegie Hall to their local Flurry Festival, John and Trish entertain, and they work to carry on lively traditional tunes & dances. Music at the Museum programs are presented at no charge, thanks to our generous sponsors,Alison Nowak and Robert Cane.

The Story of Hiram Bingham

a Bennington Historical Society presentation The remarkable story of the Binghams starts with Hiram Bingham who farmed on the future site of Bennington College in the early 1800s. He and his descendants impacted people and nations around the world. Bingham, and his son,......More

a Bennington Historical Society presentation The remarkable story of the Binghams starts with Hiram Bingham who farmed on the future site of Bennington College in the early 1800s. He and his descendants impacted people and nations around the world. Bingham, and his son, grandson, and great-grandson, influenced the modern history of Hawaii and other Pacific islands, the discovery of Machu Picchu in Peru, politics in Connecticut, the escape of 2,500 Jews from Nazi-occupied France, and a U.S. postage stamp. Rev. Glen Bayly became interested in the Binghams during the 1990s, when he was the pastor of the Mission Alliance Church in Bennington. When a missionary from the church came back from Honolulu with a photograph of a plaque honoring Hiram Bingham of Bennington, Vermont, Glen’s curiosity was piqued and his research began. Glen served 40 years of ministry as a pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, was a campus minister at Penn State University for 7 years, and hosted a syndicated radio program, ‘The Lions’ Den University Report’ for 22 years. He and his wife, Darlene, have lived in Central Pennsylvania for the past 25 years. supported by

What's New with the Weitsman Collection?

Billings Farm & Museum collection It may seem like only yesterday that John Scherer presented at Bennington Museum on the Adam Weitsman stoneware collection and Adam signed copies of the oversize book, Art for the People, but it was in Fall of 2015 – more than a decade ......More

Billings Farm & Museum collection It may seem like only yesterday that John Scherer presented at Bennington Museum on the Adam Weitsman stoneware collection and Adam signed copies of the oversize book, Art for the People, but it was in Fall of 2015 – more than a decade ago. The collection at the New York State Museum has grown in the past 10 years and on Friday, May 29, 2026, we will receive a noteworthy update. John Scherer, Curator emeritus, and Jennifer Lemak, Chief Curator of History, at the New York State Museum will discuss exciting new additions to the collection and the status of an enlarged display area for this wonderful decorated stoneware and a revised edition of the book. $7 for Bennington Museum members$10 for not-yet-membersGet your tickets at the door or save time and buy them now using the Tickets feature below.Online ticket sales end at 12:00 PM on the day of the event.

Museum ABCs: Amazing Architecture

You know about windows and doors, but can you spot a column, an arch, or a dentil? We’ll visit a nearby building that has all of these bits of architecture. Will you add them to the building you make to bring home? Museum ABCs is a collaboration between Bennington Museu......More

You know about windows and doors, but can you spot a column, an arch, or a dentil? We’ll visit a nearby building that has all of these bits of architecture. Will you add them to the building you make to bring home? Museum ABCs is a collaboration between Bennington Museum and the Bennington Free Library, designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. Siblings are welcome! Museum ABCs is FREE thanks to funding from The Bank of Bennington. Join us on the second Saturday of each month, April through November, for artwork, stories, and more! presented in partnership with the Bennington Free Library sponsored by additional support from

Artillery at the Battle of Bennington

a Bennington Historical Society presentation Cannons played a small but notable role in the seminal August 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington. Made in England, the guns and their carriages constituted top-of-the-line military technology for the time. The men who manned, load......More

a Bennington Historical Society presentation Cannons played a small but notable role in the seminal August 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington. Made in England, the guns and their carriages constituted top-of-the-line military technology for the time. The men who manned, loaded, and fired the pieces were German subsidiary troops hired by the British government to supplement its war effort. Paned by Thomas Jefferson’s propagandistic pen as foreign “mercenaries,” these Hessians were, come to find out, no such thing. In this program, Eric Schnitzer will examine how the cannons were employed in battle and investigate the material culture of the cannon barrels, carriages, and the projectiles they shot. He will also explore the backgrounds and some of the stories of the officers and soldiers from Hessen-Hanau who operated these artillery pieces in both phases of the famed battle. Eric Schnitzer has worked at Saratoga National Historical Park since 1997, becoming Park Ranger/Historian in 2000. Author of Don Troiani’s Campaign to Saratoga – 1777, he has dedicated his life’s study to the organization, personnel, and material culture of the military forces associated with the Northern Campaign of 1777. He and his wife, Jenna, live in an 18th -century house in the White Creek Historic District near Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site, N.Y. supported by