The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation must conduct a major water management project at The Morrill homestead during the Summer 2025. This project causes the site to be closed to the public for safety reasons. However, check back frequently for a lineup of events The Friends of The Morrill homestead are planning to engage your curiosity and your quest for history and knowledge all keeping to the mission of the Friends and the work in service by Senator Justin Morrill.
Exploring Morrill’s Vermont
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, explore Vermont in a unique way on a guided day trip to popular historic attractions with links to Vermont State Senator Justin Morrill. The journey via custom bus will leave from the Homestead at 7:30 a.m. Follow this link to see the flier for more information. Click here to register for the trip.
Justin Morrill
Justin Morrill grew up in Strafford, Vermont and had to leave school at age 15. He desperately wanted to attend college, yet his family did not have the means to send him. This did not deter Justin’s intellectual curiosity. He became self-educated in business, architecture, horticulture, and politics. He entered politics in 1854 and served in both the United States House of Representatives and Senate for nearly 44 years.
Morrill’s 1862 Land-Grant Act, followed by the second Act in 1890, allocated the funds from the sale of federal lands to support new Land-Grant colleges and universities that taught agriculture, business, engineering, mechanics and home economics. Today the 105 Land-Grant colleges and universities have over 25 million graduates worldwide.

Senator Morrill’s Homestead covering over 6 acres, a prime example of Gothic Revival architecture, is a Vermont State Historic Site and open to the public May 24 through October 13.
To learn more about the life and times of Senator Justin Morrill, his homestead and educational programs, please contact us.