St. Johnsbury, Vermont is in what Vermonters call the “North East Kingdom.”
It’s waaaaaay up in the northeast corner of the state, pretty far from just about anywhere.
I was there recently to take down a show of my work in the North East Kingdom Artisan’s Guild that had been up for 6 weeks.

The library is elegant, warm, and cozy all at the same time. I love the many spiral staircases.

On this trip I had the opportunity to visit the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, which is the town’s public library. It was a gift from business magnate Horace Fairbanks  whose family invented and manufactured the world’s first platform scale.

In 1871 he gave the building to the town of St. Johnsbury with the goal of  creating a center of culture for his town. It is certainly a success!

The library a treasure and a refuge. And in addition to the elegant architecture of the library, there is also an impressive collection of 18th and 19th century art, including some luminous examples of the Hudson River School.

Domes of Yosemite, Albert Bierstadt, oil on canvas 10′ x 15′

If you have a chance to get up there, don’t miss the Albert Bierstadt painting, Domes of Yosemite. He truly communicates the inspiring sense of vastness that the west imparts. Of course, if you are there you won’t miss it. It dominates the space built especially for it. I love that there is an alcove made especially for art. There is even a special balcony from which you can view the painting at a greater distance.

Be sure to give yourself plenty of time for contemplation. There is much to see!