Step Into Revolutionary-Era Manchester with Immersive LiveHistory Event at Manchester Community Library

Manchester, VT — Step through the doors of Manchester Community Library and travel back in time during an immersive LiveHistory event celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Vermont Republic. This interactive experience brings Revolutionary-era Manchester to life, inviting patrons of all ages to explore the library while engaging directly with historical figures, completing missions, and uncovering clues along the way.

Event Details
Date: Thursday, February 5th, 2026
Time: 12 pm – 6 pm
Location: Manchester Community Library, 138 Cemetery Ave, Manchester Center, VT

Throughout the day, professional actors will portray key figures in Vermont history, including some who lived and traveled through our own town of Manchester. Green Mountain Boys Jonas Fay and General Christopher Roberts, Ethan Allen’s brother, Ira, and Judge Mark T. Skinner, for whom Manchester’s original Library was named in 1897, will move through the library, greeting visitors and striking up conversations as participants follow their own chosen paths through history. Designed as a living, breathing social history experience, the event allows guests to arrive in 15-minute intervals and wander freely, encountering characters, completing tasks, and taking part in a history-themed scavenger hunt.

This open, drop-in program encourages curiosity, conversation, and discovery, offering a unique and engaging way to learn about the Northshire’s most influential Revolutionary-era figures while honoring the region’s role in the founding of the Vermont Republic. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they like, making each experience personal and self-directed.

“While the written record preserves the facts of a life, it is the physical portrayal that captures its essence. I am looking forward to seeing these historical figures walk through our library; moving from the silent page to a living, breathing encounter is an experience I wouldn’t miss,” said Shawn Harrington, Curator of the Manchester Historical Society.

LiveHistory is a Governor General’s Award–nominated theatre company specializing in bringing local history to life through immersive, interactive performances. The company creates customized historical experiences for museums, libraries, and cultural institutions and has toured internationally in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, England, Wales, and Ireland.

This event is part of the area’s celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the Vermont Republic and has been made possible through partnerships with the Manchester Historical Society, the Bennington Regional 250th Anniversary Committee, and Sunderland 250.