Ice Skating
By the late 19th century, Vermonters had cultivated an interest in outdoor winter sports. Skiing had not yet made its way to Vermont, but winter activities such as sledding and ice-skating had piqued great interest. St. Johnsbury had a skating park as early as about 1860, and, by the 1880s, the skating rink was quite popular. Winter carnivals were organized during the late 19th century in an attempt to promote tourism during winter months. Ice skating was one of many activities that Vermonters, or tourists, could participate in during the winter carnivals. The carnivals themselves began to fade away at the beginning of the 20th century, but ice skating has remained a popular winter sport.
Ice Skating Rink: Image courtesy of the University of Vermont Landscape Change Program and the Burlington Department of Parks and Recreation
