Belknap Mill in Laconia
The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail has welcomed back the Belknap Mill as a member institution, as the historic site prepares to expand its programming and partnerships in 2026. The Belknap Mill is the nation’s oldest largely unaltered brick textile mill.
“Our goals for 2026 include expanding interpretative experiences, maintaining free and affordable access to history, and continuing preservation efforts for this nationally significant structure,” said Acting Executive Director Katherine Switala Elmhurst.
The Belknap Mill is an educational and cultural hub, connecting New Hampshire’s industrial past to contemporary issues through partnerships with organizations like the League of NH Craftsmen, Laconia Historical and Museum Society, and the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative.
“We are working with regional craft guilds to introduce new classes, demonstrations, and exhibits that showcase time-honored techniques alongside contemporary makers,” she said.
In 2026, museum exhibits will examine water power, machinery, labor, and daily life, with the building serving as a primary artifact. “Enhanced interpretation will illuminate how raw materials moved through the Mill and how this system shaped the economic and social fabric of Laconia and the region,” Switala Elmhurst said.
She noted the early Industrial Revolution offers relevant lessons about progress and disruption, as it brought technological innovation and economic growth while reshaping families, labor, and the environment.
“At the Belknap Mill, we invite visitors to reflect on how communities adapted to rapid change and consider parallels with today’s challenges—automation, workforce shifts, and sustainability,” she said. “These historical conversations help frame modern questions about equity, responsibility, and innovation.”
In rejoining The Trail, Switala Elmhurst said the Belknap Mill is excited to participate in the statewide network’s effort to collectively tell New Hampshire’s story.
“The Trail helps visitors understand how sites like the Belknap Mill were connected—economically, socially, and technologically—and encourages exploration beyond a single stop,” she said. “Being part of the Trail strengthens collaboration, increases visibility, and reinforces that industrial history is deeply interconnected.”
In addition to Belknap Mill in Laconia, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, White Mountains, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.