POSTPONED Lecture: Archaeology and Tribal Historic Preservation: An Uneasy History with Jeffrey C Bendremer Ph.D., RPA
2026-02-25 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Due to inclement weather, this lecture has been postponed. We appreciate your understanding and plan to reschedule at a future date.
Join us for a lecture on Wednesday, February 25th at 4pm featuring Jeffrey Bendremer, Ph.D, RPA on archaeology and tribal historic preservation. Indigenous communities and archaeologists have often been at odds regarding how best to preserve, protect, investigate and venerate tribal heritage. Between amateur collectors, museums and academic archaeologists, Tribal Nations have often felt that their reverence for their own histories had been subordinated to outsiders who had divergent interests, priorities, ethics and goals. The establishment of Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, a provision of Section 101(d)(2) of the National Historic Preservation Act, became open to federally recognized Indian Tribes since 1996. As a result, tribal governments finally had legally-based regulatory procedures for historic preservation and a statutory basis for asserting culturally appropriate approaches to the treatment of their heritage.
Jeffrey Bendremer, Ph.D, RPA received his doctorate in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut and is currently the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community.
Jeff was founder and director of Salish Kootenai College’s Tribal Historic Preservation Program, the only 4-year degree in THP in America, and held professorships at Mercy College, Indiana University, College of New Rochelle, Eastern Connecticut State University and Connecticut College, teaching courses in Native American studies, anthropology, sociology, and history.
Dr. Bendremer has also worked in cultural resource management and public archaeology, including 10 years as Manager of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut’s historic preservation program and NAGPRA Coordinator for the Connecticut Museum of Natural History and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. He has presented and published numerous academic papers on Indigenous history and culture in the northeast. He advocates for better ethics in archaeology, improved partnerships with Indian tribes and cutting-edge methods in historic preservation.
Dorset is located on the ancestral homelands of the Mohican Nation and Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

250 for the 250th
2026-03-06 17:00 - 20:00 | Mt. Anthony Country Club, 180 Country Club Drive, Bennington, VT, 05201, United States
Join the Cause! The Bennington Regional 250th Anniversary Committee is seeking 250 people to donate $250 to support the 250th anniversaries. The money raised will go to support events, educations efforts, creative works, monuments, and special projects related to the 250th anniversaries that started this year and will continue through 2027. This special group of supporters will enjoy discounts on 250th events and merchandise throughout the anniversary period, invitations to special events, an exclusive newsletter, preferred seating at ticketed events, and their signature on a special 250th proclamation which will be on display for the three year anniversary period and will be included in a time capsule at the end of 2027 to be opened in 2077.
Sign up today to attend our inaugural “250 for the 250th” event which will be held on March 6, 2026 from 5-8 pm at Mount Anthony Country Club in Bennington, VT. Sign up at https://www.bennington250.org/. Each donor to this event will receive a special Bennington 250 pin, and a themed lapel pin for each of the three anniversary years, with the 2025 pin honoring the Expedition to Ticonderoga.
Honor history, by becoming part of history!

Hike to the Pinnacle
2026-07-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Dorset Green
Hike to the Pinnacle with Kevin O’Toole. This is a 1-mile beginner/intermediate hike.
Please meet at the Dorset Green.

Thursday Lecture Series: The Hildene Farm Gardens
2026-08-13 12:00 - 13:00 | The Dorset Historical Society Bley House Museum, Corner of Kent Hill Road & Route 30, Dorset, VT, 05251
Presented by Ann Ogden Hausslein
Ann Ogden Hausslein is a farmer, gardener, and educator in the greenhouse and gardens in the Dene at Hildene, where she serves as Co-Director of Hildene Farm. She also serves as a collaborator with Burr and Burton Academy’s Farm and Food Studies Program and both Grateful Hearts Manchester and Bennington.
Ann will present a talk about the Hildene Farm Gardens, the depth and breadth of the programs – the BBA program, the indigenous seed work, and more! Not to mention all the work on the incredible flowers and produce. Get ready to be inspired!

History Hike: Gettysburg Quarry in Honor of Art Gilbert
2026-08-15 09:00 - 12:00
Join Kevin O’Toole and Hike Dorset’s Rachel Batz for a guided hike to the Gettysburg Quarry in honor of Art Gilbert. This approximately 0.45-mile hike is rated intermediate to advanced due to the terrain. Participants should meet at the Dorset Town Office before the hike.
