Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park

Join us for a hands-on look at sustainable forestry practices during a horse logging demonstration. Learn how horses have been used for logging on Mount Tom since the 1800s and why this low-impact method is still important today.

When: Thursday, February 19, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 

Where: Prosper Rd Trailhead, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, VT. Google Maps Directions.

Cost: Free! Registration required. 

What to Bring:

• Winter boots (sneakers not recommended; expect snow)
• Snowshoes (if you have them)
• Trekking poles (bring your own or borrow on site)
• Water bottle
• Small day pack or hip pack
• Warm clothing and layers

Registration link: Spaces are limited. Click here to register.

Join natural resources staff to help monitor trees for the presence of Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA).

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an invasive aphid-like insect that feeds on hemlock trees, resulting in the tree’s defoliation and eventual death. While HWA has been confirmed in Windsor County, VT and Sullivan County, NH, the National Park Service has yet to detect it at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP or Saint-Gaudens NHP. Considering the substantial risks that HWA poses to hemlocks, the parks conduct annual monitoring. Any early detection will allow natural resource staff to protect these invaluable trees and we need your help.

Volunteer to assist natural resource staff inspect hemlock branches at 12 different monitoring location. Monitoring will take place at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 from 9am to 1pm. Additionally, monitoring at Saint-Gaudens NHP will be held on Thursday April 2 from 9am to 1pm. Volunteers may sign-up to volunteer for 1, 2, or 3 days - please indicate your preference when you register.

Be prepared to hike on and off trail over rough, steep, and uneven terrain in the snow. Please dress appropriately for outdoor weather. Bring a water bottle, snack, and snowshoes/microspikes if possible. This event will continue snow or shine. We will have adult and children’s snowshoes as well as microspikes available if needed.

What to bring:

• Winter boots (sneakers not recommended; expect snow)
• Snowshoes or microspikes (if you have them)
• Trekking poles (if you have them)
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Small day pack or hip pack
• Warm clothing and layers

Registration is required by submitting a volunteer application, emailing the park, or calling 802-457-3368. Volunteers must be age 16 and above. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Join natural resources staff to help monitor hemlocks for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) presence at both Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP and Saint Gaudens NHP. We’ll be checking hemlock branches at 12 different monitoring locations at each park, so be prepared to hike over rough, steep, and uneven terrain in the snow. Please dress appropriately for outdoor weather. Bring a water bottle, snack, and snowshoes/microspikes if possible. This event will continue snow or shine!

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an invasive aphid-like insect that feeds on hemlock trees, resulting in the tree’s defoliation and eventual death. While HWA has been confirmed in Windsor County, VT and Sullivan County, NH, we have yet to detect HWA at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP or Saint Gaudens NHP. Considering the substantial risks that HWA poses to our hemlocks, we conduct annual monitoring at our parks. Any early detection will allow us to protect these invaluable trees and we need your help!

We will have adult and children’s snowshoes as well as microspikes available if needed.

What to bring:

• Winter boots (sneakers not recommended; expect snow)
• Snowshoes or microspikes (if you have them)
• Trekking poles (if you have them)
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Small day pack or hip pack
• Warm clothing and layers

When:

• Saint Gaudens National Historical Park: Thursday, April 2nd from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park: Friday and Saturday, April 3rd and 4th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Feel free to join us for one, two, or all three days!

Where to Meet:

• Saint Gaudens National Historical Park: Visitor Center
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park: Forest Center
  • Parking for Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is at Billings Farm & Museum, just off Route 12. To enter Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park from the Billings Farm & Museum, take the paved path next to the flag pole, walk up and cross Elm St via the crosswalk, take the right fork, and walk up the short trail to the Forest Center.

Cost: Free! Registration required. Register here.

Questions? Email mabi_visitorservices@nps.gov or call 802-457-3368. 

Join natural resources staff to help monitor trees for the presence of Hemlock wooly adelgid (HWA).

Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an invasive aphid-like insect that feeds on hemlock trees, resulting in the tree’s defoliation and eventual death. While HWA has been confirmed in Windsor County, VT and Sullivan County, NH, the National Park Service has yet to detect it at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP or Saint-Gaudens NHP. Considering the substantial risks that HWA poses to hemlocks, the parks conduct annual monitoring. Any early detection will allow natural resource staff to protect these invaluable trees and we need your help.

Volunteer to assist natural resource staff inspect hemlock branches at 12 different monitoring location. Monitoring will take place at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller NHP on Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 from 9am to 1pm. Additionally, monitoring at Saint-Gaudens NHP will be held on Thursday April 2 from 9am to 1pm. Volunteers may sign-up to volunteer for 1, 2, or 3 days - please indicate your preference when you register.

Be prepared to hike on and off trail over rough, steep, and uneven terrain in the snow. Please dress appropriately for outdoor weather. Bring a water bottle, snack, and snowshoes/microspikes if possible. This event will continue snow or shine. We will have adult and children’s snowshoes as well as microspikes available if needed.

What to bring:

• Winter boots (sneakers not recommended; expect snow)
• Snowshoes or microspikes (if you have them)
• Trekking poles (if you have them)
• Water bottle
• Snacks
• Small day pack or hip pack
• Warm clothing and layers

Registration is required by submitting a volunteer application, emailing the park, or calling 802-457-3368. Volunteers must be age 16 and above. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park was home to three generations of conservationists whose deep connection to this land fueled their lifelong dedication to conservation and land stewardship. Their work and advocacy played a pivotal role in the rise of the American Conservation Movement, establishment of the Vermont and U.S. Forest Services, and creation of our national parks. This ranger-guided tour invites you on an intimate journey through the landscape and home that inspired their conservation ethos and love for the natural world. The tour begins at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center. Time is split between the grounds and the interior of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion.

Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Visit Recreation.gov to schedule a tour or program in advance. 

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park was home to three generations of conservationists whose deep connection to this land fueled their lifelong dedication to conservation and land stewardship. This tour begins with a 15-minute introduction by a ranger on the mansion porch where you will learn about families who lived here and how their work and advocacy played a pivotal role in the rise of the American Conservation Movement. This short talk is followed by a self-guided tour through the first floor of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion.

Advanced reservations are recommended. Entry times are spaced 30-minute increments and are available to reserve in advance on Recreation.gov.

With a mission to “preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations,” the National Park Service is often celebrated as “America’s Best Idea.” This one‑hour program highlights how the efforts of the Marsh, Billings, and Rockefeller families both paralleled and directly contributed to the growth and protection of our nation’s treasured public lands.

The program begins in the Carriage Barn Visitor Center and continues with a short walk along the historic carriage road to the mansion, where visitors will be guided through the first two floors of the historic home.

Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Visit Recreation.gov to schedule a tour or program in advance. 

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park was home to three generations of conservationists whose deep connection to this land fueled their lifelong dedication to conservation and land stewardship. Their work and advocacy played a pivotal role in the rise of the American Conservation Movement, establishment of the Vermont and U.S. Forest Services, and creation of our national parks. This ranger-guided tour invites you on an intimate journey through the landscape and home that inspired their conservation ethos and love for the natural world. The tour begins at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center. Time is split between the grounds and the interior of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion.

Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Visit Recreation.gov to schedule a tour or program in advance. 

The historic mansion grounds at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park serve as the backdrop for the story of the three families that had a significant role in land conservation and stewardship in America.  This approximately one and one-half hour program will traverse the park’s historic grounds and includes stops at the Mansion, Belvedere and Bungalow.  It will also proceed through some hidden spaces that are not included with other tours of the park including the Mansion’s back of the house areas and the cold war area Fallout Shelter.

The walk will travel approximately 3/4 mile/1.2 km with elevation changes of approximately 60 ft/18.5 m. 

Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Visit Recreation.gov to schedule a tour or program in advance. 

Step off the map and into the hidden world of the Mansion’s enchanting hillside gardens—secluded sanctuaries tucked beneath the forest canopy and shaped with intention across generations. With a knowledgeable ranger as your guide, discover the hidden spaces shaped by the women of the Billings and Rockefeller families. This engaging experience highlights the profound interconnectedness of nature and history, illustrating the park’s dedication to conservation and the stunning beauty of its historic cultural landscape.

This tour begins at the Carriage Barn Visitor Center. 

Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Visit Recreation.gov to schedule a tour or program in advance.