Rolling green hills, cozy villages, covered bridges, maple trees—these are the images that have made Vermont. Residents and visitors alike appreciate Vermont for its old-time values that have steered clear of the modern world. Yet this image of Vermont has not come easily. Vermont’s old-time values have been challenged, tested, adapted—and even consciously sculptured.

Vermonters have shown great creativity and adaptability in preserving the past while admitting the new. Integral to Vermont’s story of creativity are people like Ara Griggs, a one-man patrol who enforced state laws on 15,000 miles of roads. Or Gilbert Hastings, who put a toy whistle in every loaf to move bread off his grocery shelves. Or Philomene Daniels, who earned her steamboat pilot’s license to help keep the family business afloat—and was the first woman to do so.

Historic Photos of Vermont tells the story of the nation’s 14th state in nearly 200 striking black-and-white photographs. Take this journey into the past and discover why Vermonters cherish the land they call home.