Brandon Museum – Brandon, Vermont
Stephen A. Douglas was born in Brandon, Vermont in 1813. Stephen A. Douglas was 20 when in 1833 he moved from Vermont to Illinois. Although he was totally penniless when he arrived he began practicing law in Morgan County. As a zealous admirer of Andrew Jackson and his defense of Jackson earned him the nickname “The Little Giant” He was a man of short stature which contributed to his nickname.
Douglas became one of the nation’s most powerful politicians. He was a member of the General Assembly in Illinois from 1836 to 1837. He served as Secretary of State from 1840 until his appointment to the Illinois Supreme Court in 1841. He as elected to Congress in 1843 and to the Senate in 1847. He was influential to the nation during the turbulent era before the Civil War.
Douglas is probably best known for the Lincoln-Douglas Debate in 1858. Although he won 
the race for the Senate seat from Illinois the debate brought Abraham Lincoln to national prominence and in 1860 the two faced each other again for the presidential election. Douglas was the Democratic presidential candidate but was defeated by Lincoln due to the Democrat party being badly divided.
The Museum in Brandon has the story of Stephen Douglass life along with Brandon History including industry, business, architecture, tourism and immigration. There is also the history of the anti-slavery movement and how it grew in this small town in Vermont.
There is information of the impact of the Civil War on Brandon. There is also a study of the first generation Vermont home which was built in 1802 and how it has changed over its 200+ years. You will be able to see hundreds of old Brandon photos. You can read stories about the lives and thoughts of some of Brandon’s earliest residents and you will see items that were manufactured in Brandon.
The house is both the Brandon Museum & Visitor Center so when you are visiting the community you will be able to spend some time learning about the town and its past while picking up information on other things to see and do in the area.
The Visitor Center (Museum) is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm every day of the year.
Location: 4 Grove St., nest to the Baptist Chruch at the corner of Routes 7 and 73 West.
Phone: 802-247-6401
Email: info@brandon.org