Part of the “Our Community, Our Memories: Dover Remembers the Tragedy of September 11th” Exhibit
The Woodman Museum has opened “Our Community, Our Memories: Dover Remembers the Tragedy of September 11th,” a new exhibit honoring the local response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The exhibit highlights the work of Major John Fischer, USMC (ret.) of Dover, who served as a responder at Ground Zero following the attacks. Alongside images and gear Major Fischer collected during his service, the exhibit centers on two artifacts—a piece of steelwork from World Trade Center #1 and a stone capstone from the Pentagon.
“These are more than artifacts—they’re pieces of a day that changed our nation, brought here by one of our own,” said Mike Day, Operations Director & Curator. “This exhibit gives Dover a place to remember together, and to honor the service and sacrifice of those who answered the call.”
In partnership with the City of Dover, the Museum recently invited residents into the gallery to record oral histories, sharing where they were and what September 11 means to them. Those filmed histories, along with the two artifacts, will be displayed at Dover’s new 9/11 Memorial downtown on Friday, September 11. The exhibit is underwritten by Loyal Lab Electric & Generators.
The Woodman Museum is one of nearly two dozen destinations on the NH Heritage Museum Trail. “Museums like the Woodman remind us that history isn’t that distant—it lives in our own communities and the people around us,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “By preserving these memories, our members are telling the story of New Hampshire and inviting everyone to be part of it.”
The NH Heritage Museum Trail features nearly two-dozen members in the Seacoast, Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.