Burlington Vermont was an important port in the late 19th Century, and many Burlington Hill Section homes still stand to illustrate the commercial successes this unlikely port once knew.

Hill Section homes are famous for their Widows Walks or Captains Walk. These walkways or platforms on the roofs of early New England homes commanded a view of the sea. In Burlington’s case, that sea is Lake Champlain. From these high porches, captains could easily view their ships at anchor in Burlington Harbor. Likewise, a captain’s wife could watch for the return of her husband’s ship.

Today the Burlington Hill Section has a reputation for some of Burlington’s most elegant residences. Homes are large and of high quality. The tree-lined streets are dotted with mansions, some with their original barns and carriage houses, including many in the Italianate, Victorian, Federal, Tudor, Greek Revival, and Colonial Revival styles built in the 19th and early 20th century.

The Hill Section is also home to historic inns, bed and breakfasts, and Fletcher Allen Health Care, Vermont’s largest hospital. The University Green Historic District is at the very top of the hill. University of Vermont, founded in 1791, was the nation’s first agricultural college and is one of the country’s oldest medical schools. This district, donated by Ira Allen and protected from future development, has 29 historic building surrounding the green. To learn more about real estate in Burlington’s Hill Section, please contact Brian Boardman.