Vermont Firsts
1777: Vermont became the first state to abolish slavery.
1777: Vermont was also the first state to abolish the
requirement that voters must be property owners.
1785: The first marble quarry in the U.S. was started by Isaac
Underhill at East Dorset, Vermont.
1790: The first U.S. patent was granted to a Vermonter.
1802: The first U.S. canal was built at Bellows Falls, Vermont.
1810: James Wilson of Bradford, Vermont built the first globe made in America.
1819: Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, was established. It
is the oldest private military college in the United States.
1837: Thomas Davenport invented the electric motor in Brandon, Vermont.
He also built the first electric railway, printing press, and piano
in America. In addition, he was the editor of the first electrical journal.
1846: The first postage stamp use in America was made in Brattleboro, Vermont.
1869: William Russell of Bellows Falls, Vermont, established the first
pulp paper mill in the U.S.
1891: James Hartness of Springfield, Vermont, invented the flat turret
lathe.
1902: A Burlington, Vermont doctor (Dr. H. Nelson
Jackson) became the first person to cross the United States by automobile.
1909: The first Morgan Horse Club was founded at White River Junction,
Vermont. The Morgan horse is the first American breed of horse.
1934: The first U.S. ski tow was built in Woodstock, Vermont by Robert Royce.
1940: The first chairlift in the U.S. was used on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont.
1954: Vermonters elected the first woman Lt. Governor, Consuelo N.
Bailey.
1976: Bill Koch of Guilford, Vermont became the first American to win a medal in Olympic nordic skiing.
Vermont Largest
Barre, Vermont has the largest granite quarries in the U.S.
Vermont is the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S.
Montpelier, Vermont is the small state
capital in the U.S. (with fewer than 9,000 people).
