Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is located in the state of Vermont and is the only national park to focus on conservation history and the evolving relationships between people and the environment.


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Summary

The park covers 643 acres and includes a variety of natural and cultural resources.

There are several good reasons to visit the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, including its beautiful landscapes and historic buildings. Visitors can take guided tours of the mansion, gardens, and forest, and engage in a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including black bears, deer, and moose.

Some of the specific points of interest include the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion, the Forest Center, and the Billings Farm and Museum. The mansion is a historic home that belonged to three different families over the course of nearly 200 years and is now a museum that showcases the history of conservation. The Forest Center is a visitor center that provides information about the park's natural and cultural resources, as well as a variety of educational programs and exhibits. The Billings Farm and Museum is an operating dairy farm that offers tours, exhibits, and special events throughout the year.

Interesting facts about the area include that the park was the first national park in the United States to be created by donation, and that it was once owned by Frederick Billings, who was a prominent lawyer and railroad executive. Billings was also a conservationist and played a major role in the development of the park.

The best time of year to visit the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is during the summer and fall months when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities and events throughout the year, including cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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