Burt Henry Covered Bridge – Bennington, Vermont

The Burt Henry Covered Bridge in Bennington spans the Walloomsac River. The bridge was originally built in 1840 and rebuilt in 1989. The bridge is accessible from the small McWaters Town Park.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The bridge building Sears family is also responsible for the nearby Paper Mill Village Covered Bridge and Silk Road Covered Bridge.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Paper Mill Village Covered Bridge – Bennington, Vermont

The Paper Mill Village Covered Bridge in Bennington spans the Walloomsac River and was built in 1869. This bridge was built adjacent to a paper mill which was located just south of Bennington College. Charles Sears whose father Benjamin built the nearby Silk Road Bridge constructed this bridge.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Silk Road Covered Bridge – Bennington, Vermont

The Silk Road Covered Bridge in Bennington spans the Walloomsac River and was built in 1840. The bridge was built by Benjamin Sears a well know bridge builder in the area who also is credited with constructing the nearby Paper Mill Village Bridge and Burt Henry Covered Bridge.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Motel Review – Starlight Inn (Bennington, Vermont)

The Starlight Inn formerly known as Darling Kelly’s Motel is an inexpensive travel motel on the outskirts of Bennington. There is a refrigerator and microwave in each room but no exterior amenities to speak of. Since we were traveling during the great pandemic of 2020 and all pools and other such facilities were closed anyway we decided to save some money and get this barebones accommodation.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The rooms were dated but very clean which is what you want for an inexpensive lodging. If you are looking for a place to sleep or are a budget traveler this is a good option. One thing to note was that in the room we were given the refrigerator door did not close properly and the air conditioner did not seem to be working at full capacity on a hot summer’s day. We were quickly moved to another room by the manager and had no further issues.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Bennington Battle Monument – Bennington, Vermont

In Walloomsac, New York about ten miles from Bennington on August 16, 1777 a rebel force of ~ 2000 men under the command of General John Stark engaged a contingent of General John Burgoyne‘s British troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum. Stark’s New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen were reinforced by Vermont militiamen under the command of Colonel Seth Warner and some of the Green Mountain Boys. The Battle of Bennington was a part of the larger Saratoga Campaign which would turn out to be the turning point in the American War for Independence. Baum’s detachment of about 700 Hessians was sent by Burgoyne to gather supplies needed for the greater battle effort in Saratoga. During a heavy rainstorm Stark’s men were able to envelope Baum’s men taking many prisoners and killing Baum. Reinforcements for both sides arrived but Stark and Warner were able to drive away the British reinforcements with heavy casualties. The outcome of the battle was that the British had lost approximately 1000 men that may have been instrumental in the forthcoming Battle of Saratoga, they did not acquire the much needed supplies and many of their Native American allies abandoned them and went home. The victory at Saratoga sent a positive message to the fledgling Colonial cause and was a major factor in bringing about French support to their war efforts.
The Bennington Battle Monument is a 306 foot high stone obelisk commemorating the battle. President Rutherford B. Hayes attended the anniversary of the battle in 1877 and many plans were discussed by the local historical society to build a monument. The final plan was approved and the monument was completed in 1889 for a cost of $112,000 a sizable sum for the time. There is an elevator going to the top of the monument where you can see three states on a clear day.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

There is a visitor center where you can purchase tickets to the top of the monument.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

There are a number of statues and historical placards honoring some of the participants in the battle.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

There are two New Hampshire historical markers concerning General John Stark; one about his leading the expedition to Bennington and one at his birthplace in Derry, New Hampshire.