Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, Vermont
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Everything the RV Renter Needs to Know
Lake Champlain is an expansive freshwater lake that crosses the borders between Vermont, New York, and even Quebec, Canada. Today it’s a main draw for recreation of all kinds: boating, swimming, fishing, and anything else you can imagine on the water. But previously, due to its location, the lake played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and other military quests over the years.
The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vermont pays homage to much of the lake’s military history as well as its archaeological importance to the area and management of cultural and agricultural resources nearby. There are numerous shipwrecks found on the bottom of Lake Champlain and the museum devotes time and analysis to each of these. But, that’s only the tip of what you’ll find at the Museum.
There’s no way to put this lightly: there are a lot of shipwrecks in Lake Champlain. Seriously, a lot of them. With so much history and activity on the lake, there were bound to be accidents. Unfortunately, that meant many ships ended up at the bottom of the lake.
Now though, it gives us an opportunity to find and discover these areas. There are shipwrecks dating back to the 18th century, and while some are special archaeological sites that aren’t open to the public, others are. There are 60 wrecks and sites, and several can be explored by any certified SCUBA diver.
The USS Philadelphia was built in 1799 as a military ship. Unfortunately, she was burned after she was captured. Today, though, there’s the Philadelphia II, a replica of the original ship built in 1989 that sits on Lake Champlain.
The ship was built using modern power tools, but all fastening equipment was forged in a period-correct blacksmith, including every single nail. It sits moored near the museum today, and tours are available to walk you through the ship and show you everything she offered her sailors.
Want to feel at one with the water and experience a tour unlike most? A small-group rowing tour is a one-of-a-kind way to see the lake. Using the museum’s fleet of traditional rowing longboats, you can jump in with your family or friends and pick up an oar for a little bit of exercise around the lake.
Rowers can be as young as 11 years old, making this a great way for kids to experience rowing. Many of the boats used were either donated or built by the museum’s master boat builders. You’ll also be asked to review rowing safety protocol ahead of time to make sure everyone has a fun, safe time out on the water.
There have been hundreds (maybe thousands) of ships that have sailed across Lake Champlain. While you can see full-size versions of many of these around Lake Champlain today, many others aren’t available to be seen here or sadly anywhere else.
That’s why the Model Gallery at the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is so fun and important. You can see painstakingly accurate small-scale replicas of ships dating back to the 18th century. Not only can you get close to them, but you can see the way boatbuilding changed in the area across time as technology and building practices evolved.
There are a number of different exhibits spread across the Maritime Museum’s 10 buildings on campus. They vary and shift over time, but some are enduring. Inside the buildings you’ll see exhibits that focus on anything from the cultural history of Lake Champlain to the military history.
Ranging from art to full-size replicas (inside the buildings) of certain parts of sailing equipment, the exhibits are a great opportunity to learn not just about Lake Champlain, but also about maritime history in general. You can also learn about how archaeologists study the shipwrecks to learn more about maritime history.
Smoke Rise Campground is pure, classic RV camping. You’ll find full utility services and hookups, plus Wi-Fi. There’s a pool to enjoy, as well as a community fire pit. The campground is a scant four miles away from a golf course, and there are also hot showers and coin-operated laundry.
The site of Shelburne Camping puts you right in the middle of Vermont’s best attractions. Minutes from Lake Champlain, the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, bowling, and a golf course, you’ll find plenty of things to keep you busy after you’ve spent your time at the museum. You’ll find full hookups for your RV, and an extra bonus: The Dutch Mill Restaurant is on site, for when you’re too tuckered out to cook at the end of the day.
Highly recommended by the Maritime Museum, River’s Edge Campground comes loaded with amenities and is very close to Lake Champlain. Full utility hookups and free Wi-Fi for checking email and surfing the internet are both available. You can play volleyball, shuffleboard, or you can fish right off of their own, private dock.
Located right in Vergennes, Whispering Pines Campground comes with spacious sites for your rental RV. It prides itself on being a family-friendly park. They also encourage people to get together and enjoy themselves, so they have potluck meals, game nights, pool tournaments, and other opportunities to get to know your local campers. Expect full utility hookups as well.
Full hookups and numerous sites await you at Green Mountain Family Campground. There are areas available with Wi-Fi plus access to gorgeous mountains and forest surrounding you. Bring your bikes for the bike trails and get your legs ready for hiking. There’s also a swimming pool and kid’s playing area for fun for the whole family.
There’s no dining inside the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. It is, after all, a museum, and their focus is on providing factual and educational opportunities. If you’re planning to go on a rowing tour, it’s recommended that you bring along your own snacks. You can even make them in your rental RV’s kitchen.
Just outside of Lake Champlain Maritime Museum there are a couple of restaurants to help feed the hunger you gain from rowing and wandering all day. These places offer great, down-home cooking and a fun atmosphere near the lake. Nearby, in Vergennes, you’ll find a wider variety of food options. Barbecue, French, and American fare are all available.
Vergennes is a quaint, cute town, and you can find more dining options by simply exploring the town. It’s gorgeous and you won’t regret a side trip. Otherwise, definitely load your fridge before you leave on your trip and do some meal planning to take advantage of your rolling kitchen. That said, you won’t go hungry when you’re near Lake Champlain.