Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park ⓘ

...there is a mandate to invent an entirely new kind of park. It must be one where the human stories and the natural history are intertwined; where the relatively small acreage serves as an educational resource for the entire National Park Service and a seedbed for American environmental thought; and where the legacy of American conservation and its future enter into dialogue, generating a new environmental paradigm for our day.

Discover the namesakes behind the park, and so many more who have left legacy of stewardship.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller preserves a diverse collection of fine arts, household furnishings, decorative arts, and family mementos.

This exhibit showcases paintings in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park collections that tell the story of conservation

Discover how Rosa Bonheur’s art captured the heart of Frederick Billings, and a place in his Vermont home.

This exhibit focuses on the few artifacts in the park collection that focus on the park's first namesake, George Perkins Marsh.

The History and Conservation of the Baigneuse Drapée Bronze in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Garden

Historic Photos and Current Conservation of the Animal Drawn Vehicle Collection at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Reflections on Nature from Aesthetic to Mid-Century Modern through the Major Ceramic Types inside of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion

October 2003 article by Superintendent Rolf Diamont on the early years of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller

The nation's historic and cultural resources are the physical and spiritual reminders of the decisive times, people, and places in history.

Resources, lesson plans, and teaching tools to engage with powerful stories representing America’s history.

Explore the story of landscape architecture and learn how landscape architects plan, design, and care for land in the national parks.

As Mary French Rockefeller began conversations with her husband Laurance about donating her family home to the National Park Service in the 1990s, initially she wanted to highlight the contributions of the women in her family to the legacy of their estate. After meaningful dialogue, the more general idea of a continuum of conservation became the primary focus of the park narrative. The Billings women embodied this value, and are visible in the resources they worked to maintain and improve over time.

Julia and Frederick Billings had seven children together, three of whom were daughters that went on to inherit the property after their parents. Per Frederick’s wishes, the estate was kept intact throughout Julia’s lifetime, spanning twenty-four years beyond that of Frederick. When the next generation emerged, first Laura, then her sisters Mary Montagu and Elizabeth largely managed the property and home.

These women continued to return to their Vermont home, “the Hill”, updating the gardens, adding more carriage roads for public use, contributing to philanthropy in the community and preserving much of the historical integrity of the Mansion. Laura became involved with the management of the farm, establishing an office on the farm so she could learn the accounting system and be directly involved with George Aitken’s vision. Elizabeth was involved with the reforestation plantations happening on Mt. Tom, documenting species in the Woodstock area, and continuing the ecological revitalization her father had commenced.

Three generations of women, from Julia to Mary French Rockefeller, the daughter of Mary Montagu Billings French, fostered the conservation ideology across the estate’s landscape, and within the family’s home - continuing the legacy inspired by George Perkins Marsh. They understood the significance of their property as Marsh’s boyhood home and the setting for his early observations of the natural world. They also understood the importance of choosing to keep the estate intact, which in hindsight, was history in the making.

In an era when, regardless of privilege, women made significant contributions without recognition, the Billings women stand out. Because of their dedication to this landscape, we can immerse ourselves today in a place that informed conservation on a national scale while representing the values of family, home, and care for our natural world.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is home to a diverse range of bird species, encompassing seasonal visitors, migratory passersby, and year-round residents in Vermont. A number of different song birds can be heard during the summer, including the Hermit Thrush, the Vermont state bird. On the Pogue, the park's 14-acre pond, Great Blue herons fish for bass. At night, the forest is the home of many different owl species, including the Barred owl, which is commonly seen in the park.

The variety of habitats within the park supports a wide range of bird species. The trails provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching, allowing visitors to explore different environments. The park's sustainable forestry program plays a crucial role in maintaining habitats for early successional species while conserving forest bird habitats, ensuring a balanced ecosystem for both resident and migratory birds.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller is home to 17 documented species of raptors, including hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, and vultures.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller has 28 documented species of warblers, including ovenbirds, magnolia warblers, and wilson’s warblers.

The Mt. Tom forest is home to northern flickers, pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, hairy woodpeckers, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers.

Bobolink monitoring is conducted annually to ensure fledging occurs before fields are hayed, supporting their nesting success.

The ovenbird's migration cycles in spring and fall are tracked through phenology monitoring, revealing changes in the forest.

With its large size, long ear tufts, big yellow eyes, and classic hooting call - this is the quintessential owl.

A diverse array of mammals inhabit the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, thanks to its variety of wooded areas, open fields, and wetlands. Common sights in the park include eastern chipmunks, red and grey squirrels, woodchucks, and white-tailed deer, particularly at the edges of wooded habitats. At night, raccoons and skunks roam the area, while on rare occasions, visitors might spot a fox, fisher, or even a bear. This diversity of habitats supports a vibrant mammal population, enhancing the park's ecosystem.

If you happen to be around the park at dusk, you might catch a glimpse of one of the lesser known and mysterious evening residents.

Once hunted extensively, protected areas like Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller have allowed coyote populations to thrive.

Black bears are frequently seen at the park during the early summer months after they have emerged from their winter dens.

Although the park contains ample second-growth old forests, fishers are rarely seen due to their crepuscular activity patterns.

The eastern coyote... inhabits the entire east coast stretching as far west as Ohio. Highly adaptable, equally at home in many places.

Shrews take their place in the family tree of “insectivores”, a branch of which that includes the moles.

Snowshoe hares are highly adapted to the snowy, cold environments of the northern US & Canada. Read more about this color-shifting creature.

Walk Woodstock Map Woodstock Trails Partnership The park has over 20 miles of trails available for visitors to explore. The trails crisscross the property through peaceful forests, spectacular overlooks, historic scenery, and right into downtown Woodstock. The trails can be accessed from the National Park entrance on VT-12 (parking at the Billings Farm & Museum), the National Park parking lot on Prosper Road, the Faulkner Park (Faulkner Trust), or King Farm (Vermont Land Trust). The Walk Woodstock map shows the intersecting trails from all of these agencies combined. Paper copies of these maps are available at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center .

NPS Photo Download the NPS App to View Offline, Interactive Trail Maps The NPS App connects visitors to all 420+ national parks from one single app. With the app, visitors can access up-to-date information about NPS sites, download maps and tours to use offline, and search things to do and places to explore during their visit. Users can build personalized lists, as well as save and share information with friends.

F ollow Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and toggle "Download for offline use". This will allow you to use interactive park maps with or without cell service. On the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park homepage, click "Self-Guided Tours" for interactive hiking instructions for the hikes outlined below. Choose "Maps" at the bottom of the page to geo-locate yourself on the map anywhere in the park.

The following information applies to spring, summer, and fall. For information about exploring the park in the winter during the snow season, see Winter Trail Usage . Get Your Map Download a map of park hiking trails . Cell service is limited in the park. We recommend that you print or download a copy of the map to your phone prior to starting your hike. Printed maps are available at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center 10:00am-5:00pm, Memorial Day Weekend-October 31. Plan Your Hike Trail difficulty ranges from flat, smooth terrain, to steep rocky, terrain, offering a wide range of options for hiking interests and abilities. Below are some suggested walks and hikes: Hike 1 - Junior Ranger Loop (Easy with some short, steep sections 1.25 miles) Hike 2 - Faulkner Trail (Easy with gradual elevation gain 1.7 miles) Hike 3 - Hike to the Pogue (Moderate 2.5 miles) Hike 4 - North Ridge Adventure (Moderate 3.6 miles) Hike 5 - South Peak (Moderate 4.0 miles) Hike 6 - Pogue and South Peak Loop (Moderate 4.0 miles) Hiking Safety Bring plenty of water. Wear comfortable shoes with adequate support. Park at designated trailheads and lock your car. Pack out whatever you pack in. Keep your dog on a leash at all times. Choose a route that is within your ability, stay on the trails, and take the trail map with you. Let someone know your plans and stick to them. Take your cell phone in case of emergency (note that service is often lost in the western sections of the park). Hikers should yield to horses . Slowly and calmly step off to the downhill side of a trail. If you approach from behind, calmly announce your presence and intentions. Horses and other pack stock can frighten easily, so avoid sudden movements or loud noises. Dial 911 in an emergency. Follow park safety regulations. Check the weather before your hike, dress accordingly, and change plans if necessary.

More Local Hikes Walk Woodstock Woodstock, VT is a walker's paradise. Woodstock has an extensive network of over 30 miles of trails that connects the National Park to other public lands and the village of Woodstock. The trails can take you from the historic center of Woodstock, across meadows and woodlands, through the National Park and up to scenic vistas overlooking valleys, villages, and rural countryside.

In 2004, a coalition of local, state and federal organizations and agencies came together to enhance the awareness, preservation and ultimately use of the network of trails in Woodstock. One of the outcomes of the partnership is a unified Walk Woodstock map that includes the National Park carriage roads and trails as well trails managed by the Billings Park Commission and Faulkner Trust on Mount Tom and Mount Peg, and the Vermont Land Trust trails at the King Farm. HikeVT Trail Recommendations The Green Mountain Club is a network of staff and volunteers that staff and volunteers that care for roughly 500 miles of trail in Vermont, including the Appalachian Trail in Vermont; Kingdom Heritage Lands trails in the Northeast Kingdom; and the Long Trail and its side trails .

Click here for a list of Vermont hiking recommendations from the Green Mountain Club. Click here for a list of accessible trails around Vermont. Appalachian National Scenic Trail If you are seeking a more backcountry experience, the Appalachian Trail passes just north of Woodstock, and the Long Trail is not far away. The Green Mountain Club has excellent resources for hiking the Appalachian Trail in Vermont.

The park has over 20 miles of trails available for visitors to explore. The trails crisscross the property through peaceful forests, spectacular overlooks, historic scenery, and right into downtown Woodstock. The trails can be accessed from the National Park entrance on VT-12 (parking at the Billings Farm & Museum), the National Park parking lot on Prosper Road, the Faulkner Park (Faulkner Trust), or King Farm (Vermont Land Trust). The Walk Woodstock map shows the intersecting trails from all of these agencies combined. Paper copies of these maps are available at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center . Bicyles and motor vehicles are prohibited on all carriage roads and park trails. Dogs must be kept on a 6ft leash. Please pick up after your pet and pack out waste. Trash receptacles are available in the Billings Farm & Museum parking lot. Swimming and fishing in the Pogue is not permitted.

The NPS App connects visitors to all 420+ national parks from one single app. With the app, visitors can access up-to-date information about NPS sites, download maps and tours to use offline, and search things to do and places to explore during their visit. Users can build personalized lists, as well as save and share information with friends. F ollow Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and toggle "Download for offline use". This will allow you to use interactive park maps with or without cell service.