Survivors' stories from St. Joseph's Orphanage on display

Beth McDermott, Burlington Free PressWed, May 6, 2026 at 8:46 AM UTC

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The Vermont Police Academy is hosting an exhibition focusing on the experiences of former residents of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Burlington, where many children described abuse at the hands of nuns and staff.

The Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage Exhibition Display is open to the public for engagement and learning, according to a community announcement. The exhibit runs through May 21.

The exhibition is set up in the main building of the Vermont Police Academy. It is free to the public and can be visited on weekdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m., beginning May 8. An opening reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. May 7.

File photo of St. Joseph's Orphanage in Burlington, Vermont.

The event includes a walk-through of the exhibit, a discussion and a Q&A session with key partners of the restorative inquiry, including a survivor of the orphanage. The reception is free, but advance registration is required.

The Voices of St. Joseph’s Orphanage project documents the experiences of children who lived at the institution between 1854 and 1974. The exhibition uses survivor testimony, historical records and community collaboration to highlight the harm endured by former residents and their ongoing work to promote healing, accountability and stronger protections for vulnerable children in Vermont.

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Lisa Ryan, the community inclusion director, said hosting the exhibition at the Vermont Police Academy is significant.

“It reflects the Vermont Police Academy’s commitment to trauma-informed training and to fostering deeper understanding of the historical contexts that shape modern approaches to child protection and public safety,” Ryan said, according to the announcement.

For more information about the St. Joseph’s Restorative Inquiry, visit stjosephsrjinquiry.com.

Those interested in the exhibition or visiting the Vermont Police Academy can contact Lisa Ryan at lisa.ryan@vermont.gov.

This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: St. Joseph's Orphanage exhibit tells stories of abuse in VT by nuns

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