Bennington Museum Exhibit ‘Vermont Vice’ Examines State’s Complex History with Vice
An exhibition titled 'Vermont Vice' at the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont, explores the state's historical engagement with vice, including sex, drugs, and gambling, challenging its traditional image of wholesomeness.

Burlington Plattsburgh, VT, September 30, 2026 —
The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont, is presenting a new exhibition titled Vermont Vice. This exhibit delves into the state’s historical relationship with activities often categorized as vice, such as sex, drugs, and gambling. The display aims to challenge and broaden the public’s perception of Vermont, which is traditionally viewed as a state characterized by wholesomeness and idyllic rural life.
Vermont Vice seeks to uncover and highlight aspects of Vermont’s past that deviate from this idealized image. By exploring the presence and influence of vice throughout its history, the exhibition offers a more nuanced understanding of the state’s social and cultural development. The specific historical periods and events related to sex, drugs, and gambling that are featured are not detailed in the provided summary.
The Bennington Museum, located in Bennington, Vermont, is known for its collections that often explore Vermont history and culture. This exhibition represents an effort to engage visitors with a less commonly discussed facet of the state’s heritage. The exhibition’s organizers intend for attendees to leave with a more complex appreciation of Vermont’s past, acknowledging that like any region, it has contended with various societal challenges and indulgences.
Further details regarding the specific artifacts, historical accounts, or timeframes covered within the Vermont Vice exhibition were not provided. Information about the curators, the duration of the exhibit, or any associated programming is also not specified in the summary. The central theme remains the exploration of vice to provide a counterpoint to Vermont’s prevalent image of pastoral tranquility.
Story summarized from the original created by Alice Dodge on www.sevendaysvt.com, see more information here.
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