I moved to Vermont in 1995, and as a city girl, I took all the suggestions that the Shelburne Museum was something I just HAD to see with a grain of salt. After all, it wasnt Broadway, or the Met, or the Louvre Four years later, I STILL hadnt gone, and finally, with some houseguests for whom I had nothing more exciting to offer, I decided to pay it a visit. I was absolutely stunned.Nearly 50 gorgeously landscaped acres contain 40 or more structures, each of which is a spectacle in itself. From an immense horseshoe shaped edifice filled with hand-carved circus animals, miniatures, carousel horses, etc., to a complete lighthouse that was shipped and assembled in large pieces, to an actual steamship (The Ticonderoga, America's last remaining side paddlewheel passenger steamer with a vertical beam engine), to a two story carriage house with an enormous number of restored coaches, carriages, and other vehicles, to a General Store that actually served neighboring Shelburne in the 1840s (fully equipped with a barbershop, dentist office, doctors examining room, post office, and taproom, and displaying reproductions of hundreds of items from toys and games to a full collection of apothecary oddities), to a variety building of unusual collectibles that has an enormous number of items including dollhouses, steins, scrimshaw, and an entire room dedicated to hand-blown glass canes (!?) youll find at least SOMETHING to appeal to just about any type of person you know.In addition to the compilation of historical memorabilia, the museum houses several galleries of fine art of all varieties, including ORIGINALS by Degas, Cassatt, Rembrandt, Manet, Monet, Wyeth, Bierstadt, Winslow Homer, and Grandma Moses unbelievable.This establishment is a product of the lifetime efforts of a woman that has to have been one of the savviest collectors of all time, Electra Havemeyer Webb. Growing up in a wealthy family that valued beautiful objects, she is said to have collected what spoke to her. And its absolutely amazing that shtwo consecutive days (which youll need if you want to see/read/do absolutely everything if you dont have two days, make a careful plan of what you DO want to see); and be sure to bring your walking shoesits quite a hike amongst all of the attractions. There is, for the elderly, physically challenged, or slothful, a jitney service that operates all day, stopping at selected points to allow you to navigate a little bit at a time. And there is a restaurant and gift shopyou may not bring any food or beverages onto the grounds, nor consume what you may have purchased there in any exhibit area.Try as best you can to avoid rainy days--the grounds are so beautiful that you'll want to spend an adequate time viewing the outdoor areas.To adequately describe this experience is nearly impossible, so if you do have the good fortune to travel in this area, take it from me (the original skeptic) that the Shelburne Museum is something you will NOT want to miss Its, simply put, The Smithsonian of Vermont. Go. Really.