What do you know about our nation’s 30th president?
Pay a visit to Plymouth Notch, Vermont, home to one of the best-preserved presidential birthplaces in America, to find out.
This tiny village, tucked away in the Green Mountains, feels like a step back in time.
Located in Southern Vermont between Ludlow and Killington, a trip to Plymouth Notch makes an excellent Vermont day trip and is one of our favorite stops when traveling on a Route 100 road trip.
At-A-Glance: President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
Location:3780 Route 100A
Plymouth, VT 05056
Open: Seasonal: Late May to Late October, Tuesday-Sunday, 10 am-5 pm (every day in October)
Fees: $12 for adults, $4 for kids, free for under six, $30 for a family of up to six people with four adults
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on the grounds but not in the buildings
Directions via Google Maps
Official website
Tour Plymouth Notch With or Without a Guide
Your first stop should be the Museum and Education Center, which features award-winning educational exhibits that tell the story of Calvin Coolidge’s rise from a country boy in Vermont to the White House in Washington, D.C.
More than Two Words: Calvin Coolidge’s Life and Legacy
Located in the Pinney Room of the President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center, the permanent exhibition More than Two Words: Calvin Coolidge’s Life & Legacy brings America’s 30th President to life in a way that’s both immersive and inspiring.
This interactive display goes beyond dates and facts—it offers an intimate, digitally enhanced glimpse into the modest Vermont boy who rose to the nation’s highest office.
Through rare objects, photographs, newsreels, personal letters, and even political cartoons, visitors can explore Coolidge’s character, leadership, and values that shaped his life and his presidency.
The vision for such a museum began in 1960 when John Coolidge (the President’s son), former Vermont Governor Deane C. Davis, Dartmouth Librarian Edward Connery Lathem, and Vermont Historic Sites Chairman Vrest Orton founded The Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation.
The museum also serves as a tribute to Plymouth Notch, the quiet Vermont village where Coolidge was born, raised, and eventually sworn in as President. As William B. Pinney, director of the Vermont Board of Historic Sites in 1972, put it:
“A Memorial to Calvin Coolidge cannot alone be a building, but also must be preservation of a way of life… It represents not only the preservation of the home of a President, but the entire surroundings that shaped his life and those of his ancestors before him.”
Plymouth Notch: Where it All Began
After touring the museum’s exhibits, it’s time to explore Plymouth Notch. Between May and October, volunteer tour guides offer added insight as they walk you through the barns and buildings in Plymouth Notch.
Here’s what to expect:
Visit the modest home where Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. Then, step inside the family parlor where, by the light of a kerosene lamp, Coolidge took the presidential oath of office in the middle of the night—administered by his father—after President Warren G. Harding’s sudden passing in 1923.
Wander through the Coolidge Homestead, furnished just as it was during Calvin Coolidge’s lifetime.
Stroll the village green and see the homes of Coolidge’s friends and family.
Visit the one-room schoolhouse, the 1840 Union Christian Church, and the general store that once buzzed with local life.
Step inside the Wilder Barn to see antique farm tools. Explore the farm shop where Vermont farmers repaired their equipment. Peek into Coolidge Hall, the 1924 Summer White House office, and a lively community gathering spot.
Walk or drive to the hillside cemetery, where President Coolidge rests alongside seven generations of his family. It’s a fitting end to a journey through his life and legacy.
Sample Award-Winning Cheese
Don’t miss the Plymouth Cheese Factory, founded by Coolidge’s father in 1890, where you can learn about Vermont’s cheesemaking history—and maybe even try some for yourself!
Plymouth Cheese closed in 1934 but was revived in 1960 by President Coolidge’s son, John.
In 1998, John Coolidge sold the cheese factory to the state of Vermont with the understanding that cheese would continue to be made there as long as the building was standing. The Coolidge family still owns about 500 acres of the surrounding small hill farms.
In 2009, cheesemaker Jesse Werner submitted a proposal to revive the Plymouth Cheese Factory and the original 1890s granular curd cheddar recipe. When his proposal was accepted, Jesse jumped at the opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream.
The cheese factory is the same today as in the 19th century, and they still use the original recipe to create America’s oldest cheddar.
Special Events at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
The best time to visit Plymouth Notch is between May and October when the grounds and buildings are open for exploration. Want to elevate your experience? Come for these summer events.
July Fourth Celebration
Did you know President Calvin Coolidge is the only US President born on Independence Day?
Celebrate the birth of the nation and the 30th president every July 4th with a day-long celebration that includes a naturalization ceremony, a wreath laying on the president’s grave, wagon rides, and a chicken barbecue.
Historic buildings will be open for tours all day long.
Come for the Plymouth Folk Festival
During Labor Day Weekend, the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site comes alive with authentic folk and blues music for two afternoons of beautiful tunes and gorgeous views.
This year is the 20th annual Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival, which takes on August 30 & 31 from 2-5 pm. This event is entirely free, but donations of non-perishable food items are appreciated. Check out this year’s line-up and put this quintessential Vermont event on your calendar.
Looking for more spots to explore while you’re in this part of Vermont? Check out these posts:
- Plan an Adventure on Route 30 from Jamaica to Brattleboro
- A Magical Weekend of Hiking in Killington, Vermont
- Discover the Murals of Rutland, Vermont
- Plan a Fall Foliage Weekend in Ludlow, Vermont
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Vermont Explored and Back Road Ramblers, an American road trip blog. She is also the co-author of the 3rd edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, released in May 2023, and the author of 100+ Wonderful Ways to Experience Vermont.