Dear Friends,

The Park-McCullough has served many roles during its 160 year history: home to governors, host to a president, working farm, wedding venue, concert hall, and museum, to name just a few. But the identity that resonates most with us right now is: front porch for the community.

For generations, this place has been a beautiful house and an historic site, but also a vital community gathering place. During challenging times, we are reminded of the power and resilience of community. It is our honor to serve as this community’s front porch.

Of course, it doesn’t just happen. Big, old buildings and park-like grounds require constant attention and care. And the costs to maintain this historic property have increased significantly over the past few years. We don’t have an endowment and there is no trunk full of gold in the basement to cover that increase; community infrastructure requires community investment.

This year, our dedicated board of trustees has been hard at work planning for the future. As we ask for your investment in Park-McCullough, we want to share with you the priorities that have emerged during that strategic planning process: stewardship and engagement.

Stewardship: we are committed to preserving and protecting the architectural, historical, and cultural integrity of the Park-McCullough House and its grounds. Proactive maintenance and preservation planning will safeguard the property for future generations while enhancing its role as a community treasure.

Engagement: we will strengthen Park-McCullough’s position as a vital cultural and civic institution. By honoring its legacy, expanding programming in history and the arts, and deepening partnerships, we will increase relevance and participation across broader communities.

In order to accomplish all of this, we’re committed to building organizational capacity and identity, strengthening our financial foundation, and establishing and upholding a clear, actionable strategic vision. But we need your help.

To put these ideas into action, we must raise $100,000 in the closing months of 2025. Then, we can enter 2026 confident that we can continue to maintain the buildings and grounds, organize programming that educates and inspires, and serve this community.

Only with your support can this special place continue to stand as our community’s front porch and gathering place for generations to come.

Please join us by making a personally significant gift this season.

Thank you,
Your neighbors at the Park-McCullough

2025 HIGHLIGHTS

• 71 PUBLIC EVENTS HOSTED | creating space for the community-based pursuits of many area organizations to host summer theater, concerts, yoga, qi-gong, croquet, wildflower walks, the Village Block Party, and more!

• 6 REGIONAL LIBRARIES JOINED | expanding free access to the museum for individuals and families, and widening our reach through our new Library Membership

  Program.

• 14 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS FORGED | increasing our visibility and viability thanks to presenting partners The Bank of Bennington and Four Corner Properties, as well as nine friend-level partners and three non-profit neighbors.

• 1329 VOLUNTEER HOURS LOGGED | adding to our volunteer base, including the onboarding of five new docents which allowed us to double the number of guided tours this season.

• 26 PRIVATE EVENTS WELCOMED | broadening our fan base and continuing a legacy of memory-making with twice as many hosted as in the previous year.

Thank you for sharing in 2025—we are proud of all that we accomplished. Please be a part of 2026!