Vergennes Opera House

Built in 1897 by the people of Vergennes, the Opera House is adorned with the same beautifully painted main stage curtain you see today. It has hosted many famous people including President Taft and Tiny Tim. In 1901 the Edison Company brought an amazing invention to the Opera House, the Projecting Kinetoscope and showed three short films by the famous director Edwin S. Porter. That was the first time moving pictures were seen in the Addison County area. By the early 1970’s the Opera House had fallen into a bad state of disrepair and was closed. It stayed in darkness for 24 years until a group of volunteers decided to raise money to save it. With a great deal of help from the community, the historic theater was reopened in time for its 100th anniversary in 1997. Since then it continues to host musical and theatrical performances, films, private events, and community gatherings such as the annual town meeting.