The Town of Shelburne:

This affluent town belies a somewhat rough-and-tumble legacy. A fire set by American Indians and British troops during the Revolutionary War threatened the house built by one of Shelburne's earliest settlers - until it was extinguished with a barrel of beer. Today, past and present coexist in the well-to-do community just 10 miles south of Burlington. Picture-postcard perfection was achieved in the 19th century, when some of New York's most prominent families established palatial homes on the lush hillsides overlooking Lake Champlain. That legacy has been preserved at Shelburne Museum, which exhibits the nation's most distinguished collection of Americana and holds the annual Lilac Sunday in May. At the adjacent Shelburne Farms, ecology-minded descendants of the privileged founders run an agricultural and educational operation on the estate, which also features an elegant inn overlooking Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains. Shelburne Shipyard is evidence of the region's passion for maritime activity. A cozy downtown offers an ambiance of antique and pastoral charm.