Round Church (Richmond, Vermont)

The Round Church, also known as the Old Round Church, is a historic church on Round Church Road in Richmond, Vermont. Built in 1812–1813, it is an extraordinarily rare, well-preserved example of a sixteen-sided meeting house and former church, likely the only remaining example of its kind in North America. The round church's uniqueness is highlighted by the fact that the only other known historic sixteen-sided building used as a meeting place in the Northeastern United States is Union College's Nott Memorial. It was built to serve as the meeting place for the town as well as five Protestant congregations. Today, it is maintained by the Richmond Historical Society and is open to the public during the summer and early fall. It is also available for weddings and other events, with the church's shape being a novelty that attracts married couples who desire a one-of-a-kind venue for the their celebrations. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1996 for the rarity of its form and its exceptional state of preservation.