How the business of history works on the NH Heritage Trail

Home to some of the state’s most important historical artifacts, museums on the NH Heritage Trail are defined, if anything, by their resilience in the face of constant adversity.

“We are all nonprofits with tight budgets, so we have to work very hard to maintain as well as seek out diverse revenue streams,” said Julie Williams, executive director of the American Independence Museum in Exeter.

Jessica Pappathan, executive director of the Aviation Museum of NH in Londonderry, agrees with Williams and said one key to success for many—if not all—of the museums on The NH Heritage Trail has been collaboration.

“Collaborating with local businesses is very important in regards to our sustainability,” she said. “We are fortunate to have good partnerships with a number of local businesses and with aviation and aerospace companies who value our mission and want to help support our initiatives.”

According to Director of Operations Jeff Barraclough, local businesses have also been instrumental in advancing the mission of the Manchester Historic Association/Millyard Museum.

“A number of local businesses are part of our recently launched Business Partnership program, which gives businesses an opportunity to support our museum,” he said. “In return, we help to promote those businesses and provide them with museum passes, meeting space, shop discounts, and other benefits.”

For NH Heritage Trail museums, one of the biggest needs is to actively promote their respective collections and programs. At the Museum of the White Mountains at Plymouth State University, Interim Executive Director Marcia Schmidt Blaine said they consider every possible marketing opportunity imaginable.

“We’re trying all sorts of things—from special events with particular groups to changing chalkboard messages on the sidewalk,” she said.

Many museums are also actively using social media, including the American Independence Museum.

“We are on Facebook practically every day and have nearly 2,500 followers—social media is a great way to stay connected with people who know and may not yet know about us,” said Williams.

Noting many NH Heritage Trail museums have seen a marked increase in visitation in 2016, Trail President Michael Culver, who is also executive director of the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro, cited a key challenge still remains.

“One of the most important and probably hardest objectives for history museums to achieve is to make history relevant to contemporary visitors,” he acknowledged. “History museum are not only are stewards of items from the past, but custodians and interpreters of the dreams, challenges and triumphs that make us who we are.”

In looking ahead to the rest of 2016 and beyond, Culver said he believes the NH Heritage Trail as a whole is just hitting its stride.

“We are stronger individually because we work together on The Trail,” he said. “In 2017, I envision we will find ways to create experiences for visitors that actively connect them with multiple museums on The Trail. want to create memorable experiences for everyone—and especially families, which we are all seeing in more abundance.”

To learn more about any museum or upcoming event on The Trail, visit www.nhmuseumtrail.org.

Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.

Belknap Mill showcases incredible history on the NH Heritage Trail

Many—if not all—museums on the NH Heritage Trail boast a unique history that rivals that of any comparable institution anywhere. Located in Laconia in NH’s Lakes Region, Belknap Mill is no exception, as it is the only unaltered textile mill in the nation.

Saved from “the wrecking ball in the early 1970’s and placed on the National Register of Historical Places,” Belknap Mill has since become known as the “Gateway to Laconia” and holds the distinction of being the Official Meetinghouse of New Hampshire. Today, Belknap Mill offers two unique museum areas—the Knitting Room with exhibits that illustrate the Mill’s operation and the Powerhouse, which celebrates the history of hydro-power in New England through hands on exhibits that explain the hydro-power sources used there.

As with many museums on The Trail, Belknap Mill may be used for private and community gatherings, as it features a 2,800 square foot function room that Tara Shore, operations manager at Belknap Mill, said has become especially popular for weddings.

“Each spring, we also host up to 1,200 New Hampshire elementary school children for our nationally recognized industrial heritage program, “My First Day of Work at the Belknap Mill,” she said. “This interactive all day program immerses the students in a day at the Mill in 1918, covering topics of economics, science, math, and history. Each child gets paid accordingly, $0.10 – the rate of pay for a day of work at that time.”

Having recently just assumed her new role at Belknap Mill, Shore she “loves the uniqueness of each day” and expressed excitement at helping advance its mission. “If anything needs to get done, I make sure that it happens—it certainly is not boring,” she laughed.”

According to Shore, the future of Belknap Mill looks “blindingly bright.”

“Private and public programs and events fill our calendar, while our museum and newly renamed gift shop, Riverside Gifts, are now open regularly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays,” she said. We host art exhibits frequently in our Riverside Room…There are also some great changes happening at the Mill that we will announce in the coming months, so stay tuned.”

Michael Culver, president of The Trail, said he hopes that a deeper appreciation of the history behind the museums on The Trail will lead to an increase in visitors.

Many people right here in the Granite State simply don’t realize what an incredible opportunity they have right here to experience our nation’s history,” he said. “You do not have to rush down to Boston or other places south of the border to experience living American history. Each Trail member is different, too, so we cover hundreds of years of history.”

To learn more about Belknap Mill, visit www.belknapmill.org.

Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.

Arts and culture weave their way through the NH Heritage Trail

When people think of museums, they may or may not think of art and culture, which is something museums on the NH Heritage Trail seek to change in their offerings in June and beyond in 2016.

Charged with a mission to “create a public understanding and appreciation of the exceptional contributions on the home front and the battle fields made by World War II-era Americans,” the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro is one “must stop” for arts and culture lovers.

On June 14, the Wright Museum will host “Margaret Bourke-White, Courageous Photographer,” a one-woman play presented by Sally Matson. During World War II, Bourke-White was the first female war correspondent or photographer allowed to work in war zones.

On June 19, the “Norman Rockwell in the 1940s” exhibition opens at the Wright Museum and will run through August 21. During World War II, Rockwell put a human face on daily life in home front America with iconic paintings that appeared on the covers of The Saturday Evening Post. “Norman Rockwell was—and continues to be—one of America’s most popular artists,” said Wright Museum Executive Director Michael Culver. “We are very excited to have forty-four of those Home Front covers in this exhibit.”

At Londonderry’s Aviation Museum of NH, a juried photography exhibit, “A Focus on Aviation,” will run through June 26. The exhibit was organized by the Granite State Airport Management Association (GSAMA) with the intent to highlight New Hampshire aviation and its importance and relevance to Granite State history.

In Manchester at the Millyard Museum’s Discovery Gallery, visitors will enjoy the special exhibit, “The Rise of Manchester,” through August 29. Featuring images from the Manchester Historic Association’s collection, the exhibit has been opened in conjunction with the Currier Museum of Art’s exhibit, “Urban Landscapes: Manchester and the Modern American City.”

According to the Millyard Museum’s Jeffrey Barraclough, the photo exhibit will highlight many of Manchester’s iconic structures under construction.

“It’s a great opportunity to see how the Jefferson Mill, Amoskeag Bank, Notre Dame Bridge, Hampshire Plaza, and many other Manchester landmarks looked as they were being built,” he said.

In discussing the vision of The Trail, Culver said he feels there is a burdgeoning synergy amongst member museums that can help attract new people to the Granite State.

“We are more than our artifacts and historical items,” he said. “We are developing programs, exhibits, and events we feel are as relevant to today’s visitors as they are fun…New Hampshire boasts an incredible history with a future just as bright. We consider ourselves one of the state’s gatekeepers.”

Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.

Brewery supports and preserves NH history

Formed in 2014 as a way to meaningfully connect smaller museums, yet each with unique and world-class collections and artifacts, the Experience NH Heritage Museum Trail has since been fortunate to receive support from several organizations. Located in Dover, 7th Settlement has served as one such ardent supporter and has brewed special craft beers to contribute to the missions of two museums on the The Trail.

Wes LaFountain, executive director of Woodman Museum in Dover, said working with 7th Settlement was a real pleasure.

“Josh and Nate, the two brewers at 7th Settlement, were professional, yet also personally invested in the project from its inception,” he said. “They were great, donated a percentage of all sales of Woodman IPA to the museum and hosted a launch party that was packed—it was a win-win experience for two of Dover’s staples.”

LaFountain said 7th Settlement even provided Woodman volunteers with the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to making the beer itself.

“We identified flavors, desired combinations of hops—for our 100th anniversary, we of course had to include some Centennial Hops)—citrus notes, color, and alcohol by volume,” he said. Josh and Nate took great notes, let us actually help prepare the mix, and produced a great beer for which we will soon have a second edition, as the first is sold out already.”

More recently, 7th Settlement has partnered with the American Independence Museum in Exeter to create a special beer for the first of three events for the inaugural Beer for History, which takes place on Thursday, May 19. 7th Settlement will also participate in the other events with plans to craft different brews to suit each event’s theme and time of the year.

Expressing gratitude at their willingness to work with the local community, the Museum’s Rob Levey said 7th Settlement represents the best example of local corporate philanthropy.

“Along with Beer for History’s main sponsor, Hoefle Phoenix Gormley & Roberts, P.A. Attorneys at Law of Portsmouth, 7th Settlement is proof that giving back to the community produces two-fold benefits,” he said. “What amazes me the most is that 7th Settlement was on board with the idea the second I mentioned it. They did not hesitate—that is kind of awesome.”

Michael Culver, president of The Trail and executive director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, said such support is critical to its collective mission.

“Each organization on The Trail is first and foremost a ‘local’ Museum that seeks to educate, inspire and entertain their respective community,” he said. “As non-profit educational institutions, our achievements are impossible without support like that offered by 7th Settlement and we are sincerely grateful.”

To learn more about Woodman Museum, visit www.woodmanmuseum.org. To learn more about the American Independence Museum, visit www.independencemuseum.org.

Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.

NH Heritage Trail continues to expand

Promoting the history and heritage of Lake Winnipesaukee and its surrounding area, the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum recently joined the NH Heritage Trail, which extends from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points north and west.

NH Heritage Trail president and Executive Director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, Michael Culver referred to the new addition as “an exciting opportunity.”

“All the museums on the Trail feature certain characteristics—unique collections, knowledgeable staff and committed boards,” he said. “We are always open to welcoming a new member whose story helps to enhance the overall narrative of The Trail itself.”

Melanie Benton, museum director of the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, said she is excited to join The Trail. She cited its emphasis on creating “memorable experiences” for visitors as an important determining factor in electing to become a member.

“We felt that joining The Trail would enhance our capacity as an organization,” she said. “From more exposure across the state to sharing best museum practices, there is real value to being a member.”

Open from June through late October, the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum is located in the Weirs section of Laconia next to Funspot. The museum features a collection of historical photographs, maps and lake charts, and memorabilia on lake history, including water skiing, boating, summer camps for boys and girls, Native Americans and the steamboat era and more.

Charles Clark, executive director Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, said he believes that the addition of the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum helps to not only highlight the diversity of the Lakes Region, but The Trail itself.

“There is a lot to see in this beautiful Lakes Region and throughout The Trail,” he said. “We cover more than 300 years of history and feature all kinds of activities and programs for families and die-hard history buffs. I’m excited to see The Trail continue to expand.

Culver agrees and noted many museums on The Trail this year have implemented new programs and/or exhibits. As an example, he cited a new permanent display for their Military Gallery at the Wright Museum of World War II.

“The display is a “life-size” 1940s-era wooden Army barracks, complete with pot belly stove, foot lockers, uniforms and gear, wall pin-ups, and all the military and personal accessories that would have been found in such a WW II barracks,” he said. “The display will give Museum visitors a realistic view of how soldiers of the period lived and worked.”

As a new Trail member, Benton expressed optimism that their membership will help increase foot traffic into the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum.

“We are looking forward to a busy year,” she added.

Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.

Diverse programs, exhibits and events define NH Heritage Trail experience

By early June, all museums on the NH Heritage Trail will be open with nearly every member organization offering some new program, exhibit or special event.

“This year, diversity is probably what best describes what we have to offer,” said Michael Culver, NH Heritage Trail president and executive director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro. “We offer many opportunities for the whole family to enjoy, too, so we appeal to a wide audience.”

Coinciding with the thirtieth anniversary of the USS Albacore’s return to Portsmouth,, Albacore Park has embarked upon an ambitious $1.2 million dollar renovation of the basin in which the Albacore resides. The museum is also opening two exhibits with the first providing an overview of the Albacore’s 19-year career as the forerunner of modern submarines. It also provides candid in-depth explorations of daily life for the sailors that served aboard it and the many record-breaking firsts the Albacore achieved.

According to Albacore Executive Director Jim Craig, the second exhibit represents a collaborative effort between the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Kittery Historical & Naval Museum, and famed timepiece manufacturer Chelsea Clock. “It explores the intricate and unforgiving world of navigating and timekeeping beneath the waves where even the simplest of mistakes can lead to disaster,” he added. “It’s a pretty exciting exhibit.”

At the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro, visitors will be able to enjoy nature at recently constructed Woodland Walk, which is located on property grounds and will highlight some of the tree species that Dr. Libby planted years ago.

“This outdoor extension of the museum has endless opportunities for people to be outside and enjoy nature with views of Mirror Lake, Lake Winnipesaukee, the Mount Shaw range and the Belknap range,” noted Lauren Hammond, Museum director. “Dr. Libby knew this and once planned to open up the view for all to see and enjoy.”

At the Aviation Museum of NH in Londonderry, a grant from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust will enable it to provide visitors with “a complete experience of flying an aircraft without leaving the ground.”

“We plan to purchase in the very near future an Elite Pilot Deck and Monitor Mount Kit that will allow us to professionally display our state of the art flight simulator,” said Wendell Berthelsen, director of operations. “It will provide comfortable adjustable seating to go along with three 32 foot computer screens.”

In looking at the offerings on the Trail as a whole, Culver expressed enthusiasm for 2016, which he said should be its busiest year yet. “There is a lot to see and do on the Trail,” he noted. “We collectively look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of visitors to the state as well as locals to some of the best museums in the region. We no longer want to be the state’s best kept secret.”

Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.

Wright Museum of World War II Awarded Yankee Magazine’s 2016 Editor’s Choice Award

The Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, is proud to announce that it has been honored by Yankee Magazine with the magazine’s 2016 Editor’s Choice Award for Best 20th-Century History Museum in New England. Â Yankee Magazine’s “Best of New England” issue appears on newsstands in late April.

The Wright Museum opened in July, 1994, a creation of its visionary founder David Wright. Now celebrating its 22nd anniversary, the Wright has built a reputation as a national repository for historically significant WWII items and memorabilia. The Wright is unique in that the over 14,000 items in its permanent collection are representative of both the home front and the battle field. The Museum is also known for special yearly exhibitions that have included shows on Anne Frank, D-Day, WWII Quilts and Norman Rockwell; and for its popular Tuesdays evening Educational Programs. Today, more than ever, the Wright Museum remains dedicated to its commitment to educate future generations about the contributions made by WWII-era Americans, to honor their legacy and to emphasize the relevancy of the 1939-1945-era to contemporary America history.

Wright Executive Director, Mike Culver, said: “There are so many fine museums in New Hampshire, such as the 15 museums in the Experience NH Heritage Museum Trail group. Consequently, the Wright is especially proud of this recognition by Yankee Magazine. We hope that many readers will visit us to see why we deserve this award.”

The Wright Museum opens for its 2016 exhibition season on May 1. For additional information on exhibits and special events go to www.wrightmuseum.org, or call 603-569-1212.

Get on the water with the New Hampshire Boat Museum

The Boat Museum has fun programs for kids of all ages, from 5 to 100. Do you want to build your own boat? You can do that in our boat building programs. The Museum offers two sessions. One for adults and families in July and the other for youth over 12 in early August. Maybe you’d like to race radio-controlled model yachts? The Back Bay Skippers meet each Tuesday and Thursday afternoon on Back Bay. Stop by to try your hand at this fun and addictive sport.

And for your kids or grand kids, don’t forget the Museum’s fun and active Lake Discovery Camp in late July. Kids will learn about boat safety, play plenty of fun boat- and water-related games, conduct water experiments on a floating classroom, and ride the Millie B. And new this year, the kids will also become Watershed Warriors. All these activities are part of the Museum’s mission to teach young people about boating and water safety and to help them become good stewards of our environment.

One thing the New Hampshire Boat Museum is also known for is educational programs that get you out actively learning boat-related skills with your hands. If you are interested in learning to sail, the Museum offers youth and adult sailing lessons in conjunction with the town of Wolfeboro.

Or you can rent a share in our J-24 sailboat if you want to sail this summer but don’t want the expense of owning your own sailboat. And if you’d like to race your sailboat, you can enter the Lake Wentworth Sailing Regatta in early August. The regatta is a joint program between the Boat Museum, the Town of Wolfeboro, and the Lake Wentworth Association.

To learn more about the NH Boat Museum, visit http://www.nhbm.org.

Educating kids a top priority at many Heritage Trail Museums

Kids having fun at the NH Boat Museum

While increasingly becoming known for collectively harboring some of northern New England’s most interesting collections, many Heritage Trail Museums have also developed innovative summer programs for kids.

At the American Independence Museum in Exeter, the objective is to educate kids just as much as it is to provide them with opportunities for fun. “It is important to learn about the past to help understand how we got to where we are today and where we are going,” said Abby Pietrantonio, AIM education manager. “We want to inspire kids to look critically at history and their own lives and make connections from the past to the present.”

This summer, AIM will offer three summer programs for kids, ages 8 to 13. New to this year’s summer offerings, the Junior Historian Program will provide older children with the chance to visit local museums and galleries and engage in hands-on demonstration in archaeology, collections management, architecture, preservation and genealogy.

“Our other programs enable kids to assume the lives of real 18th century Exeter residents,” she added. “They will be learning and having a lot of fun at the same time, too.”

At the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro, Sheryll Ross said diversity is key to their summer offerings for kids. “We offer a two hour program for children, ages 5-7, called Lil’ Sprouts, “Kamp Kindness” in which children will enjoy hands-on creative activities and enviro-science rooted in an anthology of age-appropriate literature from around the world,” she said.

In Kidventures, for children, ages 7 to 13, children will engage in hands-on activities, art projects, cooking outside, games, and role-playing experiences as well as hear stories and explore the museum’s collections. “We can accommodate any family’s needs,” she added.

In Tamworth at the Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, Educator June O’Donal said their emphasis is on exploration this summer with four weeks of Homestead Adventures. She said each week will focus on one of four history-based topics—create eclectic art using inspirations from different periods of American history; explore the experiences and pastimes of a 19th-century kid; discover your inner budding herbalist through gardening, cooking and making herbal medicines; and wood working using historical tools.

“It’s a fun way for kids to connect with New Hampshire”s historic past and enjoy time on our working farmstead,” she said.

At the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Wolfeboro, school-age children will have two opportunities for fun, according to Executive Director Lisa Simpson Lutts. In August, the Museum will provide a two-week boat building course for boys and girls ages, 12 and older, who will build their own boat with the assistance of volunteers.

“In late July, the Museum offers Lake Discovery Camp for children, ages 5-13, where we will offer fun adventures that teach about boating, lake ecology, and arts and crafts,” she said. “Students will learn to race radio-controlled model yachts, do water experiments on a floating classroom, and ride the Millie B on Lake Winnipesaukee.”

No matter where a child goes on the Heritage Trail this year, Pietrantonio said she believes Trail museums fill a critical role in fun, creative and relevant ways.”

“We’re trying to inspire kids to dig deeper into history,” she said. “By showing them that the past can be fun, we can inspire them to reflect and maybe even seek out more information about a particular topic that they initially learned about at any of these wonderful museums.”