A Virtual Visit to Park McCullough House

The new Park-McCullough Director invites the new Bennington Museum Director to the mansion for a private and behind-the-scenes tour! With new energy and collaboration emerging from both institutions, Chris will start by introducing Joshua to the Halls, Parks, and McCullough families before showing him around the beautiful 155 year old Victorian Mansion. Throughout the tour, both directors will share some of the new effort being made to engage the public, offer additional programming, and share various marketing strategies even during this pandemic. As the directors make their way through the mansion, Chris will take Joshua to parts of the house never before seen by the public including a glimpse of the servants quarters, a rare look at some of the collection, and maybe even as far as the cupola! 

Christopher Oldham is a native of Bennington and a graduate of Mount Anthony Union High School. He attended Castleton University , where he focused his studies on human services relative to social problems, cultural diversity, and communities in American society. Christopher returned to Bennington after college to begin what he describes as a mission to serve his community. At 22, he ran for a position on the Bennington Select Board and served nine years. He has worked for the Vermont Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, United Counseling Services, and New England Newspapers Inc. He also spent 16 years working with Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless in various capacities, including five years as the Executive Director. He has served on several community boards including Applegate Housing Inc, Better Bennington Corporation, Bennington Free Library, CareNet Pregnancy Center, Bennington Rescue Squad, CAT-TV, and Bennington Coalition for the Homeless. He currently sits on the Board for Bennington Housing Authority and Bennington Child Advocacy Center. Christopher is a children’s book author and is now the Executive Director of Park-McCullough Historic Governor’s Mansion, a position he accepted in September 2019

Bennington Museum has a long history with the McCullough Family. Hall Park McCullough was actively involved with the museum at the beginning, serving on the board and lending much of his collection. He donated the eagle in the lobby and myriad early VT papers and Battle of Bennington documents. Elizabeth McCullough Johnson, who donated the Museum her pottery collection, was the last family member to live in the house, before it became a historic landmark in the 1960s.

Follow us on Facebook to catch the live-stream!