President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth Notch, Vermont

Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President was born in Plymouth Notch, Vermont in the back of the general store owned by his father.   Later, his family moved into a home across the street where Calvin grew up.   Also in this small village is the general store, community church, Plymouth Cheese and the one room schoolhouse.   President Coolidge's stepmother's garden lies near the church and is kept up by the State of Vermont.

The Coolidge historic site is considered one of the best preserved presidential sites in the United States.  The village has remained pretty much unchanged since President Coolidge's inauguration and many of the buildings still have their original furnishings.  In the Coolidge home, the bible Calvin's father used to swear him into office sits on the parlor table.

In August, 2010, the Museum and Educational Center were dedicated.  More Than Two Words: The Life and Legacy of Calvin Coolidge is a permanent interactive exhibit.  My sons enjoyed standing at the replica Presidential podium pretending to give a speech.  They could "ask" Calvin a question and it would be answered by a Calvin statue.  There was a temporary exhibit with some baseball memorabilia as Calvin's wife Grace was an avid baseball fan.

My sons' love the story of how Calvin Coolidge was a very quiet man and would not speak very much.  He was at a dinner where a woman said she made a bet that she could get him to say more than 3 words.  Calvin's reply, "You lose."  

History buffs will enjoy walking through the village, seeing how life was in the early 1900's for the Coolidge family.  A barn housing many old forms of transportation is also on site as well as a small restaurant where we had a bowl of delicious chili and a hearty grilled ham and cheddar sandwich.  The general store is open and has penny candies as well as other treats and treasures.  The original post office boxes from President Coolidge's time are there as well.

The Coolidge Home

A short ride down the street brings visitors to the cemetery, the final resting place of many generations of Coolidges including Calvin, his wife Grace and their two sons.