Step Into the World of Eliza Carter, Poet, Educator, Visionary.
Visit Carter Heritage House for exhibits, programs, and stories that bring local history, literary culture, and women’s achievements to life. Experience the enduring impact of Eliza Carter and the ideas she championed.
Step Into the World of Eliza Carter, Poet, Educator, Visionary.
Visit Carter Heritage House for exhibits, programs, and stories that bring local history, literary culture, and women’s achievements to life. Experience the enduring impact of Eliza Carter and the ideas she championed.
The Origin
Set among rolling hills and old sugar maples in Maplewood, Vermont, the Carter Heritage House has stood since 1853, its red brick walls and white trim glowing softly in the afternoon light. Once home to Eliza Carter (1821–1873) — poet, essayist, and early advocate for women’s education — the house remains much as it was in her lifetime, a quiet witness to a world in transformation.
A Lively Literary Community
Within these rooms, Eliza gathered teachers, writers, and reformers who believed that language could move hearts and that education could change lives. Her journals and letters reveal a woman both gentle and resolute — devoted to learning, justice, and the flowering of young minds.
Preservation
Restored in 1968 by the Maplewood Historical Society, the house preserves the warmth and craftsmanship of mid-19th-century Vermont life. Visitors can step into Eliza’s study, linger in the parlor where poetry once filled the air, and wander through the garden paths that inspired her verse.
The Origin
Set among rolling hills and old sugar maples in Maplewood, Vermont, the Carter Heritage House has stood since 1853, its red brick walls and white trim glowing softly in the afternoon light. Once home to Eliza Carter (1821–1873) — poet, essayist, and early advocate for women’s education — the house remains much as it was in her lifetime, a quiet witness to a world in transformation.
The Origin
Set among rolling hills and old sugar maples in Maplewood, Vermont, the Carter Heritage House has stood since 1853, its red brick walls and white trim glowing softly in the afternoon light. Once home to Eliza Carter (1821–1873) — poet, essayist, and early advocate for women’s education — the house remains much as it was in her lifetime, a quiet witness to a world in transformation.
A Lively Literary Community
Within these rooms, Eliza gathered teachers, writers, and reformers who believed that language could move hearts and that education could change lives. Her journals and letters reveal a woman both gentle and resolute — devoted to learning, justice, and the flowering of young minds.
Preservation
Restored in 1968 by the Maplewood Historical Society, the house preserves the warmth and craftsmanship of mid-19th-century Vermont life. Visitors can step into Eliza’s study, linger in the parlor where poetry once filled the air, and wander through the garden paths that inspired her verse.
Explore Eliza's legacy in person
Our museum is free of charge and open to the public between Thursdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. Please view the Visit page for more information on guided tours, event scheduling and other resources.
Exhibits & Collections
Explore exhibits and collections that reveal the textures of everyday life and enduring ideas. Each display invites reflection, discovery, and a deeper connection to the past.
Exhibits & Collections
Explore exhibits and collections that reveal the textures of everyday life and enduring ideas. Each display invites reflection, discovery, and a deeper connection to the past.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Echoes of the Pen: Writers in Residence
Engage with contemporary writers creating new works in residence and participate in readings, workshops, and interactive writing activities.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Threads of Thought: Quilts & Philosophies
Discover stories and philosophical ideas woven into quilts and textile art, with opportunities to contribute your own design.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Reflections in the Mirror Pond
Explore identity and memory through the reflective surface of the garden pond, paired with poetry and spoken-word performances.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Echoes of the Pen: Writers in Residence
Engage with contemporary writers creating new works in residence and participate in readings, workshops, and interactive writing activities.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Threads of Thought: Quilts & Philosophies
Discover stories and philosophical ideas woven into quilts and textile art, with opportunities to contribute your own design.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Reflections in the Mirror Pond
Explore identity and memory through the reflective surface of the garden pond, paired with poetry and spoken-word performances.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Echoes of the Pen: Writers in Residence
Engage with contemporary writers creating new works in residence and participate in readings, workshops, and interactive writing activities.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Threads of Thought: Quilts & Philosophies
Discover stories and philosophical ideas woven into quilts and textile art, with opportunities to contribute your own design.
09/12/2025 - 03/02/2026
Reflections in the Mirror Pond
Explore identity and memory through the reflective surface of the garden pond, paired with poetry and spoken-word performances.
"To inhabit a house is to engage in quiet debate with all who have lived before."
-Eliza Carter
"To inhabit a house is to engage in quiet debate with all who have lived before."
-Eliza Carter
Latest Events
Engage with our latest events at the Eliza Carter Museum, designed to bring history, art, and ideas to life. Each program reflects our mission to educate, inspire, and foster meaningful connections with our cultural heritage.
Latest Events
Engage with our latest events at the Eliza Carter Museum, designed to bring history, art, and ideas to life. Each program reflects our mission to educate, inspire, and foster meaningful connections with our cultural heritage.
Letters That Speak: A Night of Dramatic Readings
Nov 13, 2025
17:30
Letters That Speak: A Night of Dramatic Readings
Letters That Speak: A Night of Dramatic Readings
November 13, 2025
November 13, 2025
Actors and local historians give voice to excerpts from Eliza’s journals, letters, and essays — revealing the wit, sorrow, and steadfast conviction of a woman who believed in the moral power of the written word. Candlelight and piano interludes accompany the evening.
A Winter of Quiet Work: Writing Retreat at the Carter House
Nov 13, 2025
17:30
A Winter of Quiet Work: Writing Retreat at the Carter House
A Winter of Quiet Work: Writing Retreat at the Carter House
November 13, 2025
November 13, 2025
In honor of Eliza’s devotion to daily craft, the Museum opens its doors for a weekend retreat of reading, reflection, and writing by the hearth. Participants will stay in nearby inns, gather each morning in the parlor for tea and writing prompts, and end each evening with readings by lamplight.
Register for the event here.
Music & Memory: An Afternoon at the Carter House
Nov 13, 2025
17:30
Music & Memory: An Afternoon at the Carter House
November 13, 2025
Blending history with performance, this outdoor concert celebrates the parlor music of Eliza Carter’s generation — waltzes, hymns, and folk ballads once played on family pianos across Vermont. Visitors can bring picnic blankets, enjoy local pastries and lemonade, and listen as musicians perform on period instruments. Between sets, short readings from Eliza’s essays illuminate how music shaped her vision of harmony, both artistic and moral.
Letters That Speak: A Night of Dramatic Readings
Nov 13, 2025
17:30
Letters That Speak: A Night of Dramatic Readings
November 13, 2025
Actors and local historians give voice to excerpts from Eliza’s journals, letters, and essays — revealing the wit, sorrow, and steadfast conviction of a woman who believed in the moral power of the written word. Candlelight and piano interludes accompany the evening.