Taking a stroll through Brandon's downtown you can feel the sense of history and 19th century significance from Brandon's buildings and town greens. The fact that 243 buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places tells of it's heritage.

At the crossroads of Routes 7 and 73, halfway between Rutland and Middlebury, the picturesque and flourishing Brandon is the perfect Vermont destination.

Brandon’s revitalized downtown is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll or a place to leisurely enjoy an award-winning meal. Niche shops surround the village green and two pocket parks overlooking the Neshobe Falls. The historic Town Hall, where Brandon’s troops mustered to head off to the Civil War, is in the process of being preserved and is open for events and functions.

Brandon's layout is unique. It has two village greens with the Neshobe River flowing between them. During the boom years of the 1800s, many fine homes were built, and most of them are still in use today.

In particular, Park Street, a broad, straight avenue with beautiful homes set back from the road, is a study in early American architecture. Park and Pearl Streets, which radiate from downtown, are filled with immaculate 19th century homes with historical and architectural significance, while the commercial district has a number of interesting and tasteful shops, as well as lodging accommodations and restaurants.

Visit Sanderson Bridge, a covered bridge on Pearl Street or the Brandon Free Public Library, a beautiful building filled with lots of local history.

Chartered in 1761, Brandon quickly became an important mill town with both saw and grist mills operating on over 20 sites. With the coming of the Burlington-Rutland Railroad in 1849, Brandon became a center for the manufacture of railroad cars. Formerly a major area for marble quarrying, only one site remains active today.

The Arts In Brandon
Brandon also has a creative streak. The town’s artists sponsor a public art event each year involving anything from fancifully painted fiberglass pigs to rocking chairs to cats and dogs.

The Brandon Artists’ Guild hosts a cooperative shop and is surrounded by a large community of studios and galleries sprinkled through the town. Brandon’s artists get involved annually in projects ranging from parades, Art in the Snow, and Vermont’s Open Studio Weekend. 

Outdoor Recreation
Golfers will want to take advantage of nearby Neshobe Golf Club which is rapidly becoming one of the most popular in Vermont. Outdoor enthusiasts can head just north from Brandon to the Green Mountain National Forest and the Moosalamoo National Recreation Areawhich is a four-season recreational treasure for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and more.

Campers will enjoy nearby Branbury State Park (named for the tows of Brandon and Salisbury) which is located on the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore at the base of Mt. Moosalamoo.

Events All Year
Brandon hosts a myriad of events all year. Art in the Snow is held during the winter months to help brighten the cold days. The Largest Independence Day Celebration in the Vermont kicks off the month of July and is followed by the Basin Bluegrass Festival, also known as “Pickin’ By The Pond.”

Lovers of antiques and collectibles will relish the Great Brandon Auction and the town’s Yard Sale Day. Brandon was the first Vermont town to initiate decorating the autumn streets with Scarecrows (affectionately called Leaf People here) and a HarvestFest in the fall invites the public to make their own and bring them home.

A weekly Farmer’s Market in the summer and fall helps bring farm fresh to everyone’s kitchen table.

Brandon Is For Brides
The village of Brandon is so good at hosting weddings, they literally gave away a wedding in 2007. Contestants from all over the country submitted applications. One Bride and Groom were chosen to receive a free wedding weekend. Why? Because Brandon is a first-rate choice for destination weddings. The town is full of reception options (from the mountains to the historic), florists (wildflowers, formal, casual), musicians (jazz, rock, oldies, contemporary, bluegrass), award-winning chefs (traditional, European, BBQ), bridal attire (gowns, tuxedos, mother-of-the-bride, and everything else in-between.