Before Vermont was a state, it was an idea. Before the United States was a nation, it was an argument. At the center of both is Ethan Allen, Revolutionary War hero, founder of the Green Mountain Boys, and one of the figures most responsible for shaping Vermont's fiercely independent identity. If Vermont feels a little different than the rest of the country, a little more self-directed and a little less interested in being told what to do, Ethan Allen helped set that tone.
A Revolution Starts Here
In the mid-eighteenth century, Vermont was caught between competing land claims from New Hampshire and New York. When New York moved to invalidate settlers' land grants, Ethan Allen organized his neighbors into the Green Mountain Boys. Not professional soldiers, but ordinary people defending their homes and their right to self-rule. By the time the American Revolution broke out, Vermonters were already fighting for independence. For them, it wasn't theoretical. It was personal.
That spirit entered history in May of 1775 when Allen and the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga at dawn, without firing a shot and scoring one of the first American victories of the war. The cannons seized there were later hauled to Boston, helping force the British to abandon the city. Bold, decisive, and ahead of its time. Later captured by British forces himself, Allen refused offers of land and titles in exchange for loyalty to the Crown. His resistance was rooted in principle.
Ethan Allen's Burlington
After the war, Allen settled along the eastern shore of Lake Champlain in what is now Burlington, and his legacy is woven into the city to this day.
Visitors can explore the Ethan Allen Homestead, where Allen lived with his family and helped shape early civic life in the region. Open daily May 1 through October 31 (10am to 4pm), the site offers guided tours at 10:30am, 11:50am, 1:10pm, and 2:30pm. We recommend arriving 30 minutes early to catch one of their short films before heading out. Admission is $15 for adults, $7 for students, and free for kids under 5. Annual household memberships are available for $55 and include complimentary admission and 20% off in the gift shop, a great option for families. Planning a winter trip? Check out their winter visit options before you go.
Starting in August 2026, Burlington Trolley Tours will launch a vintage trolley route connecting the Homestead with the Heritage Winooski Mill Museum, an easy and charming way to catch two of the region's most historic sites in one outing.
Beyond the Homestead, climb aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen for a scenic Lake Champlain cruise, or hike up to Ethan Allen Tower for sweeping views of the city and lake below.
Ethan Allen wasn't just a soldier. He was a thinker, a writer, and a relentless challenger of convention who believed that independence meant more than replacing one ruler with another. Those ideas helped lay the foundation for Vermont's famously progressive 1777 constitution and the independent spirit that still defines the state today.
As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, Burlington offers a unique place to reflect on what independence actually means, not just declared, but lived and defended. Ethan Allen helped start that conversation. Vermont has been continuing it ever since.
