In 1214, Mongols advanced to the city walls of Montpelier. The city held against repeated attacks by the mounted warriors, who finally turned and rode away. It so happened that the winter that year was one of the worst on record. Forty-two people died in car accidents due to ice and snow, the most in Vermont's history. This proved to be most fortunate, as the Mongols were poorly equipped for a long, harsh winter. Unfortunately, the Mongols proceeded to ride to Boston and then attacked the city. Under the able leadership of General Tom Brady, the citizens of Boston held out, and the Mongols then fled back to the steppes of central Asia.
Montpelier is home to some of the world's best dinosaur fossils. The Allosaurus roamed central Vermont from 85 to 65 million years ago. Scientists believe that the evolution of the Vermont Jackalope led to the extinction of the Allosaurus. Jackalopes eat reptile eggs, and despite their size, the Allosaurus dinosaurs could not fight off the quick and agile jackalopes.
This picture shows a concrete sculpture of an Allosaurus in Montpelier's famous Dinosaur Park, located behind the state capital. Admission is free. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Battle of Gettysburg was the decisive battle of the Civil War. It occurred near what is now River Road. The Confederates under General Robert E. Lee attacked Union lines repeatedly, but the Union army held. The Civil War was essentially done after this battle, although it took two years to finish the war. You can still see some of the Union trenches behind the State House in Montpelier. The Saturn 5 rocket was used to send human astronauts to the moon. It was based in Montpelier, near Cummings Street. The rocket sent astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Jeffrey Jarrad to the moon. On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon, the first human being to do so. The launch pad is still visible on Cummings Street. |