8 Strangest Landmarks In Vermont

As one of the six New England states, Vermont has inherited the region’s reputation for hospitality, natural beauty, and cozy small towns. But beyond the Green Mountain State’s fixation on maple syrup, covered bridges, and stunning alpine views, it also boasts an eclectic range of attractions you might not expect. From eye-catching and record-breaking roadside attractions to quirky and one-of-a-kind museums, Vermont may just surprise you with its strange side. So, if you want to add a slice of the unordinary to your New England trip in 2025, these landmarks will help you make memories you will not forget anytime soon.

Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard

If you love ice cream, you may know that the town of Waterbury is home to Ben & Jerry’s only public factory, which has since become a popular tourist attraction. However, the Vermont town also features a more peculiar ice cream-related attraction right next door. After taking a tour of the factory and sampling some scoops at its ice cream shop, the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard is an amusing follow-up. Set on a hill overlooking the factory, the “graveyard” includes actual granite headstones with humorous epitaphs bidding farewell to the company’s retired ice cream flavors. Back in 1997, the graveyard held just 4 “dearly de-pinted,” but has since expanded to include 35.

Hope Cemetery

A thirty-minute drive from Waterbury will bring travelers to a more historic cemetery that once drew in stonecutters from around the globe. Contrasting the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard, Hope Cemetery is an actual resting place that has since become a landmark due to its “gallery of granite artistry.” The cemetery was established in 1895 in the rural town of Barre, the "Granite Capital of the World.” At that time, stonecutters flocked from near and far to take advantage of the area’s booming granite industry, and locals were no exception. An estimated 75% of the Cemetery’s tombstones were carved in advance by those resting below. Notable sculptures include a life-sized replica of a race car, an airplane in flight, and a piece modeled after Michelangelo’s Pietà.

Dog Mountain, Dog Chapel

A little over an hour’s drive from the Hope Cemetery will bring you to St. Johnsbury, home of the one-of-a-kind Dog Chapel. After a near-death experience, the chapel’s founder, Stephen Huneck, took time to reflect on the importance of appreciating life and finding closure. As a result, he became inspired to channel his artistic vision into creating a space where people and dogs alike could celebrate life or even find solace in the wake of losing a beloved pet. The first big step toward this happened in 1995 when Stephen and his wife Gwen purchased a scenic 150-acre mountain property, which they dubbed Dog Mountain.

With this, the canine lovers worked tirelessly to make Stephen’s dream of a dog chapel a reality, its doors first opening to the public in 2000. Inside, the chapel features a range of dog-themed folk art, from stained glass windows to pews, designed and carved with images of Stephen’s dogs. Today, the church and grounds can still be explored with your four-legged friends, encouraging visitors to slow down and appreciate life’s journey.

The Museum Of Everyday Life

In the tiny rural town of Glover in Northeastern Vermont, travelers can find a more theatrical appreciation for life's simple pleasures at The Museum of Everyday Life. The self-service museum was founded in 2011 by Clare Dolan, an artist and curator with a passion for appreciating day-to-day objects. Set in Dolan’s cleared-out barn, the museum displays objects normally deemed mundane, from locks and keys to safety pins and even a collection of dust. The true magic lies in the museum’s examination of these commonplace objects, showcasing their history and ties to the human experience. While certainly not glamorous, this is precisely what makes the museum so charming. Since its conception, its mission has remained the same: to spotlight and celebrate mundanity.

Freedley Quarry

For an experience that defies the ordinary, consider a visit to the Freedley Quarry in Dorset. The now-abandoned landmark had a typical run, thriving during the town’s mining boom in the late 1700s, eventually shutting down due to increased demand for marble. However, the Freedley Quarry’s unique structure has made it a popular landmark all these years later. While the region’s other quarries were dug directly into the Earth, Freedley was dug into the side of Mount Aeolus. As a result, the quarry features a gorgeous arch-shaped cavern. It has since become a popular ice skating spot in the winter when the cavern’s pond freezes over, while others prefer to explore its offshoot passageways and graffiti.

World's Tallest Filing Cabinet

In Burlington, you can find another landmark that defies the expected. At first glance, you might think the name says it all: the “World's Tallest Filing Cabinet” stands 38-drawers-tall, towering over the parking lot it resides in. However, the art installation has a deeper meaning beyond its whimsy as a roadside attraction. While it has since been relocated, the sculpture, titled "File Under So. Co., Waiting for…," was originally installed on a long-delayed roadway in 2002 as a comment on bureaucratic delays. When Burlington finally moved forward with construction nearly two decades later in 2020, this witty artistic piece was moved just a few hundred feet away to make room for the long-awaited roadway.

Floating Bridge

While currently closed for winter, Vermont’s iconic Floating Bridge is set to reopen in the spring of 2025. Located in the town of Brookfield crossing over Sunset Lake, the historic structure is one of the only floating bridges in the United States. The original bridge was built in 1820 and has since been rebuilt several times over the years. While the subsequent structures have been adapted to improve upon the original’s technology, its charms and picturesque views remain the same. As the name suggests, Sunset Lake promises breathtaking scenes when the sky bids farewell to the sun, but views from the Floating Bridge are stunning at any time of day.

The Ticonderoga Steamboat

While many ship-turned-museums can be found dockside, the Ticonderoga Steamboat is land-locked in the town of Shelburne. The restored 220-foot vessel is one of the last remaining side-paddle-wheel passenger steamers in the world, but its fame is also tied to its current whereabouts. Originally constructed in Shelburne in 1906, the Ticonderoga served as a day boat on nearby Lake Champlain until 1953, when more modern ferries led to its decreased popularity. In 1955, the vessel was then relocated two miles inland from the lake in what is now recognized as one of the greatest triumphs in maritime preservation. Today, this National Historic Landmark carries visitors back in time to the 1920s. Its elegant interior can be explored freely, but the guided tours from mid-May through mid-October are the best way to learn more about the steamboat’s vibrant history.

Final Thoughts

While Vermont’s typical attractions are by no means boring, these eight strange landmarks offer a break from the usual, inviting you to look deeper. Even if you find yourself visiting them as a brief detour, they make the perfect addition to any trip. Whether strolling the Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard as a follow-up to the factory tour or making a pitstop at the World's Tallest Filing Cabinet before exploring the rest of Burlington, no matter how brief your interaction, your time at these landmarks will be memorable.