We arrived in Montpelier from Concord around 11:00 am. It was chilly and raining lightly, but otherwise lovely.
We parked across from the old Pavilion Hotel, now home to the Governor’s offices and the Vermont State Museum. We climbed the front stairs and met a very nice lady at the entrance to the museum. When she asked if we’d like to see the museum, I replied that we were there to see the Liberty Bell replica. She giggled and said, “Are you sure you’re in the right state, hon? This is Vermont. I think you’re looking for Philadelphia.” After telling her that every state has a replica and Vermont’s is in this very building (for the internet told me so, and the list Jerry in Allentown xeroxed for me confirmed) — she dutifully went to fetch someone who might be able to help solve the mystery.
She returned with a woman who told us they have two bells outside the state library door in the building directly behind and adjoining the Pavilion building. One of them was from a ship and the other, she thought, was the Liberty Bell. They lead us through the building, through security and to the bells.
The ship bell was from the U.S.S. Vermont in 1907, according to the giant engraved characters on the front of the bell. The other, indeed, was the Liberty Bell.
The bell is in good shape. It seems like it’s been indoors for most of its life. The hand-painted sign on the bell looks like it’s been there since the ’50s. Based on the interaction with those who worked in the building every day, I got the sense that not many people visit the bell and those who see it daily might take it for granted to the point of forgetting it’s there — similar to the Bell in ND.
We spent just under two hours in Montpelier — deciding we’d try to power through to Augusta and shave a day off our trip. We stayed just long enough to buy some tasty handmade chocolates from Cocoa Bean, some seriously hot coffee from Capitol Grounds, and for Dawn to break the law by crossing a train trestle. Now it’s on to and through Maine.