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Canterbury Shaker Village prepares for Traditional Craft Days

Working with one’s hands is said to be one of the most rewarding ways to spend time while another sense of accomplishment can be experience in learning something new. Traditional Craft Weekend at Canterbury Shaker Village, a member of the New Hampshire Museum Heritage Trail’s Merrimack Valley Region, offers visitors the chance to experience both feelings.

On Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3, 50 traditional craftspeople will share their skills with visitors with the event lasting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days at 288 Shaker Rd. in Canterbury, NH.

Some of the crafts on display will include woodworking, rug hooking and braiding, wool sock making, hand-stitching leather items, broom making, weaving, letterpress printing and more. Visitors will also be able to try their own hand at these skills.

“This is a top-notch group of craftspeople,” said David Emerson, one of the organizers of the event. “Their enthusiasm for their work is contagious. If you’ve ever wished you could become adept at a handcraft, chances are good you’ll find one that appeals to you and an experienced teacher to ensure your success.”

Craftspeople during the two-day event include furniture maker David Lamb of Canterbury, Penobscot basket maker Barbara Francis of Maine and blacksmith Gary Kalaijan. There also will be oxen from Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon.

The event also features music with live music kicking off in June 2 at 10 a.m. with Badger’s Drift. Doug Hazard follows on stage at noon followed by New Found Grass with a show from 2-4 p.m. On June 3, music by Ryan and Brennish Thompson and Entangled Strings.

A workshop on dry laid wall construction will also be available. Those interested may sign up at www.shakers.org/dry-laid-stone-walls. The cost is $157.50 for members and $175 for non-members.

Tickets for Traditional Craft Days may be purchased ahead of time or at the door. Members can attend at no cost. Admission costs for non-members are $19 for adults, $9 for children ages 6-17 and free for children 5 and younger. Tickets are good for both days.

Shaker Village is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesdays to Sundays through Sept. 2 and daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sept. 3 through Oct. 28. From Nov. 3 through Dec. 2, Shaker Village will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends only.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.shakers.org.

In total, 17 museums make up the NH Heritage Museum Trail. Stops on The Trail include Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Plymouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.

“Exciting events on tap for NH Heritage Museum Trail’s Seacoast Region”

Throughout June, each site in the Seacoast Region of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail—USS Albacore, American Independence Museum, Woodman Museum and Discover Portsmouth—offers great programs and experiences.


Discover Portsmouth

“Guests view Gertrude Fiske gallery at Discover Portsmouth…Photo credited to Raya Al-Hashmi/Raya on Assignment

Located in Portsmouth, Discover Portsmouth features several events in June. Sketching in the Gallery, which is free to attend, takes place from 10 a.m. to noon, June 9 and June 23. Sketching in the Gallery allows attendees to take a pencil and paper and sketch art featured in the Balcony Gallery.

In June, visitors will also have three chances – noon to 12:45 p.m. on June 1, 15 and 29 to take a special tour of “Gertrude Fiske: American Master.” At this event, visitors will experience a guided, in-depth look at the works of Gertrude Fiske. The tours are part of the Lunchtime Exhibition Tour and are free and open to the public, but space is limited.

Discover Portsmouth is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.portsmouthhistory.org.
USS Albacore
Located in Portsmouth, the USS Albacore offers self-guided tours of a research submarine used by the U.S. Navy to test experimental features used on modern submarines. The self-guided tour includes recordings of former crew members who describe life aboard the submarine. Additionally, there is the Memorial Garden, which honors submariners who lost their lives in service to their country.

The USS Albacore is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.ussalbacore.org.

American Independence Museum
At the American Independence Museum in Exeter, June features two special offerings in addition to public tours, Tuesday through Saturday. Revolutionary Story Time takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. on June 7. Sponsored by Exeter Hospital, Revolutionary Story Time is for children (3 to 5 years old), parents and caregivers. The event features re-enactor and musician Mike Welch, who will read books, share stories, perform music and more.

On June 28, the American Independence Museum will host “The Patriotic Shoe,” a Lunch and Learn series event presented by People’s United Bank from noon to 1 p.m. Dr. Kimberly S. Alexander, PhD, of the University of New Hampshire, will discuss stories of American-made shoes, their makers and wearers. Lunch and Learn events are free.

The American Independence Museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For information, visit www.independencemuseum.org.

Woodman Museum
At the Woodman Museum in Dover, visitors will be treated to the art of Juleen Stacy and Jim Reagan beginning June 3 in the Thom Hindle Gallery. Stacy, who is a resident artist of the Art Center, and Reagan, a member artist of the Art Center and owner of Carriage House Gallery, will have their work featured through July.

Also, throughout June, visitors are able to experience a scavenger hunt with online assistance for a chance to win a pair of wireless Apple Airpods. Of the 100 “treasures” featured in its 100-year celebration in 2016, 38 items are able to be located by guests on a self-guided tour. Once the hunt is completed, visitors can register for a chance to win the earbuds. The hunt will continue through July with a new winner drawn for that month.

The Woodman Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For information, visit www.woodmanmuseum.org.

In total, 17 museums make up the NH Heritage Museum Trail. Stops on The Trail include Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Plymouth, Tamworth, and Wolfeboro.

Fun holiday happenings on the NH Heritage Museum Trail

At many of the museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, which stretches across the central and eastern part of the Granite State, the holidays represent their busiest and most fun time.

At the Aviation Museum of NH in Londonderry, Santa Claus and his elf plan to drop by for story time on Saturday, December 16 at 11 a.m.

“They will have a treat for each child, and all are welcome to stay for holiday treats in our classroom following their visit,” said Executive Director Jessica Pappathan. “Museum members and children under 12 receive free admission.”

To learn more about the Aviation Museum of NH, visit www.aviationmuseumofnh.org.

For children who cannot wait until December 16 to see Santa, the Millyard Museum in Manchester will host a Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 2.

In addition to a special appearance by Santa from 10:30 a.m. to 12 noon, younger guests may enjoy storytelling and holiday crafts while people of all ages will appreciate the raffles, games, cookies and cider. Admission is free to the museum for this event.

Guests can also shop for the holidays in the Museum Shop, which features historical books, locally made products, and unique collectible brass ornaments, including the new “Amoskeag Millyard” ornament.

Members of the Manchester Historic Association receive an extra 10% discount at the Museum Shop on this day only (at least 20% off all shop items). For more information, visit, www.manchesterhistoric.org.

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages, the NH Heritage Museum Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors by the end of this year. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find it on Facebook.

NH Heritage Museum Trail to honor veterans this Veterans Day

Several museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail will host special events to honor veterans this upcoming weekend to commemorate Veterans Day on Saturday, November 11.

Wright docent tours the museum with a NH Veterans Home resident

According to Michael Culver, president of The Trail and executive director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, many member museums have artifacts of particular interest to veterans.

“Collectively, we help tell the story of New Hampshire’s history and its citizens—and the military is a big part of our history,” he said.

Emma Bray, executive director of the American Independence Museum in Exeter, said they are offering free admission to active and retired military, veterans and their families for Veterans Day.

“Our collection is owned by the Society of the Cincinnati, direct descendants from individuals who fought in the Revolutionary War,” she said. “The Society was the nation’s first veterans organization, and the New Hampshire branch was actually formed in 1789 right in our Folsom Tavern—we tell their story right here.”

At the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, free admission will be offered to all veterans and active military from Friday

The Currier Museum of Art is an internationally renowned art museum located in Manchester, New Hampshire.

November 10 through Sunday, November 12. All galleries, including Monet: Pathways to Impressionism, are free, although there is a $5 special exhibition fee to The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec.

On Sunday, November 12, The Currier will also host a Jazz Brunch with made-to-order omelets and pancakes while talented local jazz musicians entertain guests. Veterans will receive a 20% discount off the regular $19.95 adult fee to the brunch.

“There is so much to see and do at all of our museums,” added Culver. “There may be no better place to commemorate our veterans than on the NH Heritage Museum Trail.”

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NH Heritage Museum Trail to feature range of Veterans Day programs

In honor of Veterans Day, several museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are offering a range of events and programs highlighting the Granite State’s many wartime contributions.

On Thursday, November 9, at 7:00 p.m., the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Londonderry will host “Celebrating Our Veterans Through Songs and Stories.” Conducted by Curt Bessette and Jenn Kurtz, this moving program—now in its second year—features readings and musical performances by and about American servicemen and women.

Additionally, from November 3 through December 10, an exhibit titled “War and Wings: A Selection of WWI and vintage aviation posters” will run to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the United States’ entry into the war.

Admission to both events is free for veterans.

According to Director of Operations Wendell Berthelsen, the programs are part of a broader initiative to both educate the public and honor the sacrifices of the many New Hampshire vets—whether living or deceased—that answered the call of duty.

“You can’t celebrate and preserve New Hampshire aviation history without considering the major role that our veterans have played in our past and future,” Pappathan said. “Our members, volunteers, and guests, many of whom are veterans, relay stories of valor and heroism that become part of our ongoing efforts to preserve and keep their history and service alive for future generations.”

For its part, Concord-based New Hampshire Historical Society has a trio of Veterans Day events.

An exhibition, “Making the World Safe for Democracy: Posters of the Great War in New Hampshire,” will be on view from Saturday, November 11 until October 2019. Featuring posters drawn from the museum’s own collection, the exhibit explores the use of this popular art form in shaping public opinion.

That same Saturday at 2 p.m., a lecture titled “New Hampshire at War”—delivered by Sue Kelly, one of the Society’s museum educators—will give attendees a broad-based look at the state’s myriad military contributions and accomplishments.

Guided museum tours will also be offered at 2 and 3 p.m.

“We think it’s incredibly important to remember that just because New Hampshire was never the site of famous battles, we still contributed to America’s efforts,” said Elizabeth Dubrulle, Director of Education & Public Programs. “From all the soldiers who went off and fought to well-known admirals, generals, and military leadership, our state has a legacy that all Granite Staters should be proud of.”

In all, 17 museums make up the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, which stretches from Portsmouth to Plymouth and includes several locations east and south.

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Museum Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find it on Facebook.

Service Credit Union and Wright Museum team up for exhibit

On display from September 25 through October 13 at the Service Credit Union (SCU) Corporate Office at 3003 Lafayette Road in Portsmouth, the Saturday Evening Post Cover Exhibit features items lent by the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro.

Curated by Wright Museum Executive Director Michael Culver, Saturday Evening Post Cover Exhibit features covers donated by John and Evelyn Frank that are now part of their permanent collection. He referred to the partnership with Service Credit Union as “perfect.”

“Both organizations are committed to enriching the lives of New Hampshire residents,” he said. “In our own ways, we also recognize and acknowledge those Americans, both past and present, who have helped shape our national identity. The SCU headquarters is great venue for this decidedly American exhibit and we are proud to have it there.”

Service Credit Union President/CEO David Van Rossum said the exhibit allows guest to look back through history at important moments, particularly those related to WWII.

“It was the most ubiquitous and influential magazine of the time,” he said. “We are so pleased to make this historically significant exhibit free to our community and introduce our new exhibit space.”

The covers will be on display inside the atrium of Service Credit Union from Monday, September 25th until Friday, October 13th with hours as follows: daily from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and extended hours until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. There is no charge to the public and all are welcome.

The Wright Museum is one of 17 museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, which stretches from Portsmouth to Plymouth and includes several locations east and south.

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Museum Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find it on Facebook.

Quirky objects abound on the NH Heritage Museum Trail

Welcoming more than 200,000 visitors annually, the 17 museums that make up the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail use “strength in numbers” to promote the Granite State’s cultural and historical legacy, which includes “quirky” objects.

Located in the Ossipee Mountain Range and built in 1914, Castle in the Clouds features its original wraparound showers. Nicknamed “needle showers” for their tiny pinhole sprays, the walk-in stalls were designed to “provide an energizing massage for the internal organs.”

“These were state-of-the-art for 1914 even though some ‘experts’ considered them too harsh for women at the time,” said Maggie Stier, director of development and engagement at the Castle Preservation Society. “These showers really provide a unique window into the era. Guests are always captivated by them.”

At the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, UFOs—unidentified found objects—have become an integral part of its overall collection. One such piece is a clear, blue-glass decanter set, which was crafted by Austrian designer Otto Prutscher around 1907 and brought to the museum a few decades later.

“The only clue we had is a number on a sticker on the bottom of the decanter, which is similar in format to numbers used by a private collector who gave the Currier a very large collection of glass in the 1940s,” said Registrar Karen Papineau. “Unfortunately, the set does not appear on any of the lengthy lists from this collection.”

Not far from the Currier, the L.L. Lee Scouting Museum features a treasure trove of scouting memorabilia, including sketches by Scouting’s founder, Robert Baden-Powell. Another quirky item is a flag carried to the moon by America’s first astronaut (and Granite State native) Alan Shepard.

However, it is a particular pair of official Scouting Handbooks published around the same time—albeit in different languages and with slight alterations to the cover’s characters—that is one of the Museum’s more culturally fascinating artifacts.

“Following the September 8, 1951 signing of the Treaty of Peace with Japan, the U.S. was granted control over Ryukyu Islands for 20 years,” explained Joe Biedrzycki, director of communications and volunteer coordinator. “Ryukyu Island Boy Scouts operated under the auspices of the Boy Scouts of America, and Scouts learned their Scouting skills from a Japanese language edition of the Boy Scout Handbook.

According to Biedrzycki, visitors can notice the difference in the hair color and facial features from the English-language counterpart.

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Museum Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find it on Facebook.

Plenty of quirky objects on the NH Heritage Museum Trail

Attracting more than 200,000 visitors each year, the 17 institutions that make up the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are using “strength in numbers” to promote the Granite State’s cultural and historical legacy.

However, while the Trail’s mission might be a shared one, its biggest draw lies in the distinctive offerings of the museums themselves, including some peculiar—even quirky—objects and artifacts.

Voted America’s Best Small Eclectic Museum in 2014, the Libby Museum of Natural History in Wolfeboro has a pair of mummified hands that were first discovered in a Queen’s tomb in the Upper Nile Valley of Egypt.

“The Libby is the home of quirky things,” said museum director Alana Albee. “We have a polar bear, a Chinese fingernail, a female human skeleton, a dinosaur vertebrae, and an albino crow—and that’s just to name a few.”

At the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Londonderry, visitors might notice the numbered runways painted on the floor, just as they’re marked at airports across the world.

“Many guests have no idea what the numbers mean,” said the museum’s director of operations, Wendell Berthelsen. “It’s basically a compass heading. Just add a zero to the number. So 12 would be 120 degrees, and 180 degrees away from that would be 300, or 30.”

At Wolfeboro’s Wright Museum of World War II, a lieutenant’s scarf includes a colorful backstory. According to the donor, Lt. “Dippy Wilkinson” of Fordyce Arkansas flew a P-38 known as the “Flying Red Ass,” which explains the bucking donkey on the left side of the scarf.

In Tamworth, the Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm offers visitors a unique look at how medicine has evolved from colonial times today. In some cases, however, medical methods have remained very much the same—like, say, snake venom.

“We have a cobra venom solution that was used by Tamworth’s country doctors in or around the 1930s to treat patients with chronic pain without the risks of withdrawal and dependence associated with opiate medications,” said Curator Faithe McCreery. “While it sounds intimidating, snake venom is still incorporated into a variety of medical remedies today.”

Founded in 1991, Exeter’s American Independence Museum features a number of artifacts from the Revolutionary period. One of the museum’s stranger items is a pistol that, having since become obsolete, was retrofitted into something a bit more practical.

“Tinderpistols were originally used to test gun powder to make sure the powder from the barrel was good,” explained Collections and Member Services Manager Rachel Passannante. “The theory behind these oddities is that with the improvement of gun powder there was an excess of these once-useful tools, so a small plate was soldered onto the powder tester for a candle to sit and they became candle holders.”

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Museum Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find it on Facebook.

New Director Brings Worldly Experience, Family Ties to The Libby Museum

Founded in Wolfeboro in 1912 as New Hampshire’s first natural history gallery, The Libby Museum recently announced the appointment of Alana Albee as executive director.

Kid and Moose at The Libby.

For Albee, returning to the Granite State after decades spent abroad was more than just a career choice—it was personal.

“This is where I was born and I have fond memories of spending time in the museum as a child,” said Albee. “I was delighted to come back after a long career away and give back to my community.”

After graduating from the University of New Hampshire, Albee received her master’s degree from the London School of Economics and accepted a post in the Diplomatic Service of the British government. Specializing in international economic development and public finance, her 25-year career included stints throughout Africa and Asia between which she served as Chief of Employment policy for the International Labor Office in Geneva, Switzerland.

A dual citizen of the U.S. and U.K, Albee retired from the Diplomatic Service in 2015 and returned to her native Granite State. In returning to NH, she cited a family connection, too, as her grandfather, John Allen Horne, was great nephew of Hattie Horne, wife of museum founder Dr. Henry Forrest Libby. For decades, the younger Horne ran the iconic Allen ‘A’ Resort in Wolfeboro, which is now the home of the New Hampshire Boat Museum.

“There’s a deep family tradition here that I’m proud to inherit,” Albee said.

According to Albee, The Libby’s timeless feel is about much more than just the historic building.

“Unlike a lot of museums, not everything in The Libby is behind Plexiglas,” she said. “You can touch the moose and the coyote. You can get up close to see what animals really look like. It’s interactive and immersive and that’s what I love about it.”

Her immediate goals for the museum include working to preserve the original collection, some of which comprises animal and bird specimens, plants and insects, Native American relics, early American antiques and implements, and more.

Acknowledging the collection has suffered due to inadequate insulation in the building, Albee noted the Town of Wolfeboro is discussing potential funding to upgrade the building with a more comprehensive restoration project in the future.

Longer-term goals include building a replica boat similar to one owned by Dr. Libby himself as well as extending the museum’s current trails to nearby Mirror Lake.

“It was the dream of Dr. Libby to have visitors be able to enjoy a vista across the lake to the Belknap Range as well as across Mirror Lake to the Ossipee Mountains,” Albee said.

Today, The Libby attracts thousands of visitors every year—numbers that she hopes will be bolstered through membership in the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail. With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017.

For more information about the Libby Museum, visit www.thelibbymuseum.org. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find The Trail on Facebook.

L.L. Lee Scouting Museum brings history, heritage to NH Heritage Museum Trail

Touting one of the most extensive collections of its kind anywhere in the country, the L.L. Lee Scouting Museum recently joined the NH Heritage Museum Trail.

As the historical cornerstone of Manchester’s Camp Carpenter, one of many such camps overseen by New Hampshire’s Daniel Webster Council, the Scouting Museum offers engaging exhibits featuring stamps, paintings, Jamboree memorabilia, sketches by Scouting’s founder, Robert Baden-Powell, and a flag carried to the moon by America’s first astronaut (and Granite State native) Alan Shepard.

Now, the Museum is poised to bring its unique collection—as well as some beautiful New Hampshire scenery—to an even wider audience.

“We’ve always enjoyed great support from Scouting families who frequent Camp Carpenter for events and Council-sponsored camping programs,” said Joe Biedrzycki, Director of Communications and Volunteer Coordinator for the Museum.

He said the Scouting Museum might also be of interest to anyone who had been a Scout, had one in their family, or has a general interest in history.

“We provide visitors with a unique look into a slice of New Hampshire’s rich culture and heritage,” he added.

Founded in 1969 as a memorial to its co-founder, Lawrence L. Lee—a Daniel Webster Council Executive—the Scouting Museum has since grown to include a staff of senior Scouters with more than 200 years of combined experience.

For Biedrzycki, joining the NH Heritage Museum Trail provides the Scouting Museum with a unique opportunity for collaboration.

“Sharing experiences and ideas with other nonprofits is valuable since we all face the challenge of getting visitors into our museums,” he said. “Other member museums of The Trail may have ideas on exhibiting, operations, volunteerism, and promotional activities to which we can contribute or that will be helpful.”

While its near-unrivaled collection makes it a crown jewel of Scouting history, the Scouting Museum—nestled near beautiful Long Pond just minutes from downtown Manchester—is eager to engage a new generation of visitors.

“It’s our perspective that group marketing efforts and cooperation will enable us to reach a whole new host of potential visitors,” Biedrzycki said.

To learn more about the L.L. Lee Scouting Museum, including programming and weekly hours, visit www.scoutingmuseum.org.

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Currier Museum of Art joins NH Heritage Museum Trail

As the newest member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, Manchester’s Currier Museum of Art is excited to showcase its stunning collection—which includes works by Picasso, Monet, O’Keefe, Wyeth, and LeWitt—to an even wider audience.

Recent Block Party at the Currier.

“We at the Currier are very excited to be joining such an impressive and inspiring group of likeminded institutions,” noted Tracey Carrier, Membership and Guest Services Manager for the Currier. “We know our community is strengthened when we work together and there’s a lot of crossover between our audiences.”

In keeping with its mission of “providing stimulating, diverse and enjoyable encounters with original works of art,” Carrier believes the Currier is a seamless fit within The Trail community.

“Our visitors tend to be both interested and interesting–and there’s a lot to do, see, learn and celebrate here in New Hampshire,” she said. “We’ve enjoyed learning about the other Museums in the NH Heritage Museum Trail group. Seeing the variety of what’s available right here in our backyard—history, people, art—it’s a veritable treasure hunt.”

As a museum dedicated to high standards of exhibition, preservation, research, interpretation and enhancement, the Currier has become an important linchpin in New Hampshire’s cultural landscape.

Now through September 4, the Currier is showcasing works by Varujan Boghosian, a 91-year-old New Hampshire artist renowned for his work in sculpting, collage, and watercolor. Visitors may also currently enjoy an exhibit, “Monet: Pathways to Impressionism,” which includes four of the artist’s earlier works alongside paintings by American impressionists influenced by Monet.

Upcoming exhibits at the Currier include The Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec, which opens on September 30. Drawn from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the exhibit will present more than 100 posters, prints and illustrated books of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. To learn more about the Currier, visit www.currier.org.

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Art, beer and more on the NH Heritage Trail

There are several events on the NH Heritage Trail in the coming months that celebrate the rich culture and history of the Seacoast region.

Sculpture Exhibition. Michael Stasiuk. photo by Raya Al-Hashmi

At Discover Portsmouth on August 17th, Mary Harding, curator of the George Marshall Store Gallery in York, and Seacoast-based sculptor Michael Stasiuk will discuss sculpting and their partnership as curator and artist. Their lecture will provide a “behind-the-scenes” look at everything from materials to process and technique.

The event is part of a 3-part lecture series, Seacoast Sculpture Exhibition, with the last lecture scheduled for Thursday, September 14th. Led by Christopher Gowell, director of Sanctuary Arts in Eliot, and joined by Josh and Lauren Dow of the Green Foundry, this last lecture will reveal the process of turning an artist’s work from clay into a rubber mold, molten metal, and into bronze.

Tickets for both remaining events in this series are $10 for members and $20 for non-members.

Doors open for both events at 5 PM and lectures start at 5:30 PM. For more information, visit www.portsmouthhistory.org/seacoast-sculpture-exhibition-lecture-series.

In Exeter, the American Independence Museum will host Beer for History, sponsored by Hoefle Phoenix Gormley & Roberts,

Museum Executive Director Emma Bray (left) with Kevin Baum of Hoefle Phoenix Gormley & Roberts, P.A. Attorneys at Law.

P.A. Attorneys at Law, over the course of three months at historic Folsom Tavern. At the first event on August 17th, the featured brewer will be Neighborhood Beer Co. followed by 7th Settlement on September 14 and Earth Eagle Brewings on October 12. Each night will also feature themed programming with a fun “Escape the Room” program in August, Historical Trivia in September and Colonial Games in October.

Tickets for individual events are $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Series tickets are also available. To purchase tickets, visit www.independencemuseum.org/beer-for-history.

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find The Trail on Facebook.

Fun ways to explore the Lakes Region this August and September

In Wolfeboro, the Wright Museum will host its 5th annual Cruise-In Car and Motorcycle show on Saturday, August 19th from 10AM to 2 PM. The event will feature live music and food from noon to 2:00 PM.

For more information, go to www.wrightmuseum.org.

If boats are more your speed, the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Wolfeboro will host its 11th annual Boathouse Tour on Thursday, August 10th. With a full day of guided tours of seven different boathouses around Lake Winnipesaukee, boat enthusiasts can gain perspective on the history behind each one. The tour can be taken by vintage boat, vintage car, or in your own car.

“We are thrilled to be moving our event to the northern end of Lake Winnipesaukee this year,” said Kristin Isley, the Boathouse Tour Co-Chair. “We are excited about the array of new boathouses we will be touring as we explore a new part of the lake.”

For more information, visit www.nhbm.org.

In Plymouth at the Museum of the White Mountains (MWM), Dr. Tommy Stoughton will lead their second free mushroom and fungal walk on Saturday, August 5. On Monday, August 21, Dr. Stoughton will be back for the last walk of this pilot fungal walk series and discuss the diversity and distribution of fungi within the White Mountains.

For more information, visit www.plymouth.edu/museum-of-the-white-mountains.

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017. For more information about any museum on The Trail, visit www.nhmuseumtrail.org. Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find The Trail on Facebook.

 

The Libby gears up for a busy August on the NH Heritage Trail

One of 17 museums on the statewide NH Heritage Trail, The Libby Museum in Wolfeboro features a variety of special programs and events in August.

From August 15 to 19, The Libby will host an Outdoor Skills program for youth, ages 11 to 14. Led by Chris Russell, the program will teach youth how to set-up camp, cook, carve, preserve plants, and predict the weather.

In collaboration with Squam Lake Science Center, free live animal demonstrations will take place every Wednesday at 2 pm. In August, award winning nature photographer Roger Irwin’s work will also be on display. Irwin will speak and provide insight on his work on August 24 at 7 pm

“Roger is a totally inspiring guy and one of the most generous people I know,” said Alana Albee, executive director at The Libby. “He has let us use his lovely photos in our advertising this year without any charge, which has been so very appreciated.”

For those interested in the collection at The Libby, visitors are in for a treat, as it includes everything from displays of butterflies and moths to Abenaki relics, bears, birds and a polar bear.

“We are one of the largest natural museums in the state,” added Albee. “You can enjoy a picnic on our property, too, with beautiful views of Lake Winnipesaukee.”

To learn more about The Libby, visit www.thelibbymuseum.org.

Airplanes, birthday celebrations, live animals and more on the NH Heritage Trail this summer

With numerous events, exhibits and programs for all ages this summer, the NH Heritage Trail expects close to 250,000 visitors in 2017.

“We have a submarine in Portsmouth, working farms, airplanes, army tanks—you name it and we have it on the NH Heritage Trail,” remarked Mike Culver, president of The Trail and executive director of the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro. “We are expecting a big year.”

Jessica Pappathan, executive director of the Aviation Museum in Londonderry, said they are expecting a big year, too. She cited their upcoming aircraft fly-in on July 8 as one of their largest events.

“There will be all kinds of different aircrafts—some will be antique and others homebuilt,” she said. “We will have plenty of activities for kids, too…It’s a great event for families and people of all ages.”

To learn more about the aircraft fly-in, visit www.nhahs.org.

In Portsmouth on July 9, the Portsmouth Historical Society will host the John Paul Jones 270th Birthday Party at the John Paul Jones House. Featuring free admission, the event will include house tours, music with Great Bay Sailor, refreshments, and family-friendly activities.

In partnership with Port City Bike Tours, the Portsmouth Historical Society also offers daily guided and self-guided bike tours that begin at the John Paul Jones House. Tours include a custom fit 21-speed bike, helmet, water and a snack.

To learn more about these and other events at Portsmouth Historical Society’s Discover Portsmouth or John Paul Jones House, visit www.portsmouthhistory.org.

In Wolfeboro at The Libby Museum, kids have numerous opportunities for exploration, including free live animal demonstrations that will take place every Wednesday from July 5 to August 30. In July, the popular Lil Sprouts Summer Program will provide opportunities for children, ages 5-8, to enjoy hands-on creative activities, enviro-science and art.

A museum of natural history, The Libby was founded more than 100 years ago. To learn more, visit www.thelibbymuseum.org.

The Trail
The 17 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village, Castle in the Clouds, Currier Museum of Art, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.