Less than a year after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, another new Republic was taking shape. Delegates from the newly independent Republic of Vermont gathered at a tavern in Windsor to draft a constitution.

The Vermont Constitution was adopted at this tavern during a violent thunderstorm in 1777.

The Vermont consitution was far reaching — the first to prohibit slavery, establish universal voting rights for all males, and authorize a public school system. The constitution guided the Republic for 14 years until 1791, when Vermont was admitted to the Union as the fourteenth state.

Called the "Birthplace of Vermont", the restored Old Constitution House looks as it did more than 200 years ago. An exhibit recounts the writing of the most progressive consititution of its time, and examines its effect on the politics of the young nation.

Learn more about the Old Constitution House

Our Shared Heritage: Vermont's Parks & Public Lands
URL to link to: http://parks.vpt.org/

Premiering on Vermont Public Television on September 27, 2009, Ken Burns’ new series, The National Parks: America's Best Idea, is the story of an idea as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence and just as radical: that the most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. Accompanying this 12-hour television event is a community engagement campaign intended to raise awareness and stewardship of Vermont’s public lands and to increase public use of these unique areas.

This community campaign includes:

• Online Photo Contest - Entry deadline is October 9, 2009
• Exclusive preview screenings and discussions with local state and national park Rangers
• Free passes to Vermont State Parks, available at libraries throughout the state
• National online story collecting tool, allowing  you to share your parks stories, photos and videos
• Expanded programming on VPT to highlight Vermont’s public lands

Feautred sites will be Old Constitution House, Mount Independence, Chimney Point and Justin Morrill Homestead.