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Dorset is well known for its historic buildings and beautiful village center. The Dorset Village Historic District and the Kent Neighborhood District are both included on the National Register of Historic Places. Many of the buildings in these districts were built during the time that Dorset was an important center of the marble industry. Indeed, there are over 20 marble quarry sites in town, two of which, the Norcross-West Quarry and the Feedley Quarry, are on the State Register of Historic Sites, as is the Freedleyville Marble Mill.

Situated at the divide between the south-flowing Batten Kill and the north-flowing Mettawee River and Otter Creek, Dorset is also a town with a remarkable array of natural resources. The Dorset Marsh lies at the headwaters of both the Batten Kill and the Mettawee and is one of very few "Class I" wetlands in Vermont.

There are important wetland complexes along all of the Town's principal waterways as well as several significant ponds along the floor of the valleys on both the east and west sides of Town. Considerable attention has recently been directed toward protection of the Town's abundant and high quality groundwater resources as well.

There are a number of distinctive and interesting mountain peaks in Dorset, including Mother Myrick Mountain, Green Peak, and Owl's Head. Those mountains are blanketed with forests and provide important habitat for deer, bear, and a wide variety of other animals. The unique geology of the Town supports a significant concentration of rare plant species and unique natural communities that have been identified as part of the Vermont Natural Heritage Program. One of those sites is the cave on Green Peak that provides shelter for thousands of bats and is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Many other Natural Heritage sites are found on the rocky slopes of Dorset's mountains and in and around the Dorset Marsh.

It would be difficult to look around anywhere in Dorset and not observe beautiful scenery of one type or another. Some scenes combine the Town's unique historical and natural resources, such as views of Dorset Village set against the backdrop of the Taconic Mountains. Other views of note are the ever-changing rural scenes along Route 30 and the mountain vistas that can be seen from Dorset Hollow Road and West Road on either side of the Byway. There also are a number of spectacular lookouts accessed from trails that wind high up into the mountains on either side of Town.

Dorset's recreation resources include its vast backcountry, trails, waterways, and features unique to Dorset such as the Norcross-West Quarry, which is now a popular swimming hole and picnic site and the Freedley Quarry which is a popular hiking and ice skating destination. The Town owns several parcels of woodland and also owns several miles of trails. The Green Mountain National Forest has acquired some remote upland areas in Town as well. Developed recreational facilities include the Dorset Field Club, two campgrounds, and, of course, roads such as Route 30 that support bicycling and recreational touring.

The Cave, Gettysburg, and Fulsom marble quarries are also of particular historical significance to the Town. Well over 100 buildings in Dorset are included in either the National or State Registers of Historic Places. The Town also contains six historic cemeteries, the site of an old iron foundry, and a variety of other sites of local historical interest.

Long a center of cultural activity, Dorset Village contains a building maintained by the Dorset Historical Society, a fine public library, and a theater where performances take place year round. The Long Trail School, a private middle and high school also offers performances and facilities for community events.

Photo: The Dorset Theater is located in Dorset Village just off Route 30.