Health, Pasteurization, and the Modern Dairy Industry

Milk canister, insulated canister, and milk crates at the Milk House

13,000 Years of History, Art and Resilience: An Indigenous Perspective on 250 Years of Colonialism

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Mt. Kearsarge Indian museum
Originally launched in 1937 as “National Milk Month” to distribute surplus summer milk, June has grown into an annual tribute honoring dairy farm families and highlighting the essential nutritional benefits of products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Prior to the 1930s, raw milk was responsible for a sizable portion of foodborne illnesses, primarily due to unsanitary farming conditions and the commercial pooling of milk from multiple herds. Pasteurization — heating milk to a specific temperature to kill harmful pathogens without ruining its taste — emerged in the early 20th century to combat deadly milk borne diseases like bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and typhoid.
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm explores rural life through the story of the six generations of the Remick Family who called this New Hampshire place home. The last two generations produced country doctors: Dr. Edwin Remick (1866–1935) and Dr. Edwin Crafts “Doc” Remick (1903–1993), each of whom served the rural community where they were born and raised.

In addition to his medical practice, Doc Remick was a herdsman and established Hillsdale Dairy in 1934 to provide pasteurized milk to nearby Civilian Conservation Corps camps. Trained as both a doctor and a farmer, he understood the health and safety benefits of milk pasteurization and incorporated this technology into his operations. The equipment on display is original and marks the first commercial use of milk pasteurization in Carroll County. Today museum visitors can tour the dairy barn, milking parlor, and pastures that were once home to Hillsdale Dairy.

Before his death in 1993, Dr. Edwin C. Remick created a foundation to preserve the family farmstead and history of the country doctor in a way that the public could directly learn from and enjoy. The Remick family’s 200-year-plus history in Tamworth gives us a glimpse into how people farmed, worked, and played in this idyllic landscape.

ReDiscover Canterbury Shaker Village in 2026 on the NH Heritage Museum Trail

Aerial View of Canterbury Shaker Village. Photo credit: Peter Bloch – EarthAerial Productions

Canterbury Shaker Village, a member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, invites visitors to “ReDiscover Canterbury Shaker Village” this season with new programming, active preservation projects, and fresh experiences at this National Historic Landmark. Canterbury Shaker Village is a nonprofit-owned National Historic Landmark district featuring 25 restored Shaker buildings in a 694-acre setting of forests, fields, gardens, and mill ponds.

“Canterbury is a portal into an intriguing, historic world—one where nearly 300 Shakers lived and worked together as a community for 200 years,” said Manager of Communications and Engagement Garrett Bethmann. “Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or returning after time away, we want people to rediscover why this place moves them and connect with who we are today.”

In 2026, an updated tour model introduces guests to the Canterbury Shakers and invites them to follow their curiosity through the property’s open spaces and buildings. The land comes alive this season through a new Bee House exhibition on the Shakers’ agricultural history and a pilot partnership with Sanborn Mills Farm that grows produce and brings traditional farming techniques to the gardens and greenhouses. A new monthly recreation group, the Movers and Shakers Trail Club, meets on the trails the last Saturday of every month.

“With the Meeting House and East House both undergoing restoration at once, this is a rare chance to see preservation happening in real time,” Bethmann added. “It shows the craft and dedication it takes to keep these buildings—one from 1792, one from 1810—alive for the next generation.”

“Canterbury Shaker Village is a treasure, and it’s one of many across the NH Heritage Museum Trail,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “Each of our members opens a door to a different part of this state’s story. When you rediscover a place like Canterbury, you’re really rediscovering the heritage of New Hampshire itself.”

The NH Heritage Museum Trail features nearly two-dozen members in the Seacoast, Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.

Castle in the Clouds Celebrates a Milestone Season on the NH Heritage Museum Trail

Trolley at the Lucknow Mansion

Castle Preservation Society, a member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, is celebrating its 20th anniversary, building on the momentum of the Lucknow Estate’s 2025 designation as a National Historic Landmark.

To mark the occasion, the Castle in the Clouds has unveiled a new exhibition exploring the estate’s history after Thomas and Olive Plant, inviting visitors to discover the lesser-known chapters of Lucknow’s story. The mansion itself remains the centerpiece of the visitor experience, with daily tours and a newly repaved historic driveway that sets the stage from the moment guests arrive.

Beyond the mansion, the property comes alive each June with more than 200 public programs scheduled across the 2026 season. Families can follow the newly installed Story Walk, which officially debuts June 13 with a grand opening celebration at the Picnic Pavilion in partnership with Altrusa. Mondays feature story time and crafts led by the Moultonborough Public Library.

Stargazers and sun-watchers alike can also find their place at Castle in the Clouds, with Sunday solar gazing sessions with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and an evening of constellation viewing on Thursday, June 18.

“From our mountaintop vantage point, the skies above Lucknow have inspired wonder for more than a century,” noted Executive Director Charles Clark. “Programs like these connect visitors to the same sense of awe that drew Thomas and Olive Plant here in the first place.”

The estate’s natural beauty takes center stage through guided and volunteer-led hikes, garden tours of the historic Lucknow Gardens, and a Garden Photography Workshop presented with ArtWorks.

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For those drawn to hands-on experiences, June offers everything from beekeeping sessions with Bewitched Acres to a watercolor workshop, the annual Community Arts Festival on June 27, and weekly yoga on the lawns beginning June 29.

“Our 20th anniversary is a moment to celebrate not just what we’ve preserved, but what we’ve built—a place where history, nature, and community come together,” added Clark. It’s also part of something bigger. As members across the NH Heritage Museum Trail are telling the story of New Hampshire in ways that invite 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.

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US@250: Big Watch Takes Center Stage on NH Heritage Museum Trail

Liberty Pole on Marcy St. in Porsmouth. Photo courtesy David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto

As New Hampshire prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, many members on the NH Heritage Museum Trail are participating in the nationwide “US@250: Big Watch” initiative. Strawbery Banke Museum is one member, as it will celebrate Flag Day on Sunday, June 14 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Presented in collaboration with the Association of Historical Societies of NH and fellow Trail member Portsmouth Historical Society, the event begins with a Flag Day ceremony at the historic Liberty Pole on Marcy Street. Following the ceremony, families are invited to enjoy refreshments and children’s craft activities before moving to the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitor Center for a special film screening.

The “Big Watch” features an exclusive excerpt from the documentary THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION by Ken Burns and Florentine Films. The screening will focus on “The Spirit of Service,” followed by a panel discussion exploring civic participation, democracy, and how New Hampshire’s history shapes the nation’s future.

“This event is about more than just looking back,” said Jeff Barraclough, President of the NH Heritage Museum Trail. “It’s an invitation for our community to come together and discuss what service and democracy mean to us today as we approach our nation’s 250th birthday.”

This event is made possible by New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with NHPBS, with additional support provided by Cogswell Benevolent Trust. Click here to learn more.

The Seacoast is one of five regions represented on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, alongside the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.

13,000 Years of History, Art and Resilience: An Indigenous Perspective on 250 Years of Colonialism

Storm boats on the Rhine River, 1945

13,000 Years of History, Art and Resilience: An Indigenous Perspective on 250 Years of Colonialism

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Mt. Kearsarge Indian museum
Long before New Hampshire existed, this continent was home to several hundred tribes and numerous linguistic groups. Sadly, many people are under the impression that with the founding of New Hampshire and the United States, 250 years ago, Indigenous Peoples disappeared. Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum was founded 35 years ago to dispel that erroneous myth.

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is the only museum in New Hampshire that is solely focused on educating the public about artistic expression, traditional values, and contributions from past and contemporary Native life. Explore seven galleries, arranged geographically, spanning the continent. Gain a better understanding of Indigenous life before, during, and after the impacts of colonial expansion forever changed the world.

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum celebrates 13,000 years of Indigenous history and lifeways. Visitors will gain an appreciation of the diversity of Native peoples and how they continue to coexist with their environments. Additionally, the museum celebrates an awareness that Native peoples continue to practice traditional skills, arts and lifestyles today.

Seacoast Museums Mark America’s 250th with New Exhibits and Signature Events

The Cousins Apartment exhibition at Strawbery Banke Museum

As the nation marks 250 years of American independence, Seacoast members of the NH Heritage Museum Trail are meeting the moment with new exhibits, reinvented institutions, and signature events.

In Exeter, the Ladd-Gilman House has reopened this season under a new name, the American Independence Center. While guided tours of the colonial and revolutionary-era home remain central to the visitor experience, new exhibits now trace the full arc of American democracy — from 1775 through the present — exploring how each generation has grappled with the meaning of independence.

The Center will also host the inaugural Pursuit of Happiness 5K this July, held on the morning of its annual American Independence Festival on Saturday, July 11. To learn more, visit aicnh.org.

In Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke Museum opened its 2026 season with the debut of the Cousins Apartment, a new permanent exhibit within the newly renamed Penhallow-Cousins House. Developed in partnership with the Seacoast African American Cultural Center and the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, the installation interprets the lived experience of a Black family in Portsmouth’s Puddle Dock neighborhood during the Great Migration. To learn more, visit strawberybanke.org.

“Our Seacoast members are showing what it looks like to tell the American story with both honesty and ambition,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “Whether it’s reinventing a beloved institution or opening doors to stories that haven’t been told before, these museums are making the 250th anniversary feel genuinely alive.”

The Seacoast is one of five regions represented on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, alongside the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.

Seacoast Trail Museums Offer a Season of the Unexpected

Portsmouth Historical Society visitors examine the map charting the Hills’ journey south through New Hampshire, marking off stops and sightings along the route

History is not always what visitors expect—and this season, Seacoast members of the NH Heritage Museum Trail are leaning into the stories that surprise, unsettle, and stick with you long after the tour ends.

At the Portsmouth Historical Society, the exhibition Betty & Barney brings one of the Seacoast’s most famous—and most debated—stories back to the public eye. On view through November 2, the exhibition explores the lives of Betty and Barney Hill, the pioneering interracial Portsmouth couple whose 1961 report of a UFO encounter in the White Mountains became a cultural phenomenon. Free curator tours are scheduled for Fridays, July 3 and September 4. To learn more, visit portsmouthhistory.org.

Down the road at Albacore Park in Portsmouth, visitors can tour the USS Albacore, the groundbreaking research submarine whose hull design shaped modern submarine engineering. The Park is open seven days a week, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and recently served as the backdrop for the Silver Dolphin pinning ceremony of three U.S. Navy submariners in April. Visit ussalbacore.org to learn more.

In Dover, the Woodman Museum offers something a little different this fall with Spooky Night at the Woodman Museum, the first-ever paranormal investigation of its kind on the museum’s grounds. Guests will explore three historic buildings, including the 1675 Garrison House, alongside the Paranormal Five team, with proceeds benefiting the museum. To learn more, visit woodmanmuseum.org.

“People sometimes think of history museums as quiet places, but our Seacoast members are proving otherwise,” remarked Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “From Cold War submarines to alien encounters and a ghost hunt in a 17th-century garrison, there’s something happening this season for just about every kind of curiosity.”

The Seacoast is one of five regions represented on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, alongside the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, and Merrimack Valley.

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum Opens for 2026 Season with New Exhibit

Beaded vest in ‘Quills & Beads: Adornment that Adapts’ exhibit

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum has opened for the 2026 season with expanded accessibility improvements and a full slate of programs highlighting Native American history, art, and culture.

Headlining the season is a new exhibit, Quills & Beads: Adornment that Adapts, curated by Sterling Gross. Tracing the evolution of Native American adornment—from traditional porcupine quillwork to the intricate beadwork that emerged following the introduction of European glass beads—the exhibit features rare pieces on public display for the first time.

“Our new exhibit invites visitors to look closely at the artistry, but also at the adaptation and resilience these pieces represent,” said Executive Director Andrew Bullock. “Quillwork and beadwork are living traditions, and we’re honored to share this collection with our community and with visitors traveling the Museum Trail this season.”

In addition to the new exhibit, the museum has completed several accessibility upgrades ahead of opening day. The Medicine Woods Trail—an outdoor walking path featuring plants traditionally used by Native peoples for food, medicine, and craft—is now fully accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Renovations to on-site restrooms and pathways have also been completed to better serve visitors of all abilities.

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (guided tours at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.), and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (guided tours at 1:30 p.m.) Click here for more information about the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, its exhibits, and upcoming events.

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is one of nearly two dozen museums on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, which features members in the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail Preparing for Busy Season

The Visitor Center at The Rocks

As the 2026 season approaches, the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail (The Trail) is preparing for its most ambitious year. With the addition of several prominent historic sites and the continuation of its statewide storytelling initiative, The Trail is positioning itself as “the gateway” to the Granite State’s rich cultural legacy.

“2026 is going to be a truly wonderful year for our visitors,” said Jeff Barraclough, President of the NH Heritage Museum Trail. “With the addition of incredible sites like The Rocks in Bethlehem and the John Hay Estate at the Fells, our Trail is more diverse and vibrant than ever.”

He said he is especially excited to share the final chapters of their “25 Stories for 250 Years” project, as many members formally celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary. Launched in late 2024, this initiative features monthly stories from every member museum, highlighting the diverse people and events that have shaped New Hampshire.

“It’s about more than just dates in a book—it’s about the authentic, living history that you can still touch and feel right here in New Hampshire,” he added.

The Trail also continues to grow, recently welcoming three significant institutions to its network. In early 2026, the Enfield Shaker Museum, known for its remarkably preserved Shaker architecture, and the John Hay Estate at the Fells in Newbury, a stunning historic summer estate, joined The Trail. They were preceded by The Rocks in Bethlehem, a historic property managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.

“With the nation’s 250th anniversary this year, 2026 is going to be our best year yet,” said Barraclough. “The Trail features something for people of all ages—visit us.”

The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail features members in the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

OPERATION STORM’N WATERWAYS

Storm boats on the Rhine River, 1945

Fastest Submarine in the World—Twice!

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Albacore logo
In the final months of World War II, young American soldiers crossed the Rhine River in small wooden boats, trusting their lives to vessels built with urgency, precision, and quiet bravery. Among them was the Correct Craft Storm Boat, a 16 foot powerhouse that carried men, gear, and hope across a river that had long stood as Germany’s last great line of defense. These boats were launched under fire, guided by soldiers who knew that every crossing brought the Allies one step closer to ending the war. Their bravery, and the craftsmanship that carried them, helped turn the tide in 1945.

Today, the New Hampshire Boat Museum is honoring that legacy in the most tangible way possible: by rebuilding a Storm Boat exactly as it was made in 1945. This project is deeply meaningful not only because of its wartime history, but because of its New Hampshire roots. The Meloon family—founders of Correct Craft—first arrived in Portsmouth, later moved to Ossipee, and eventually settled in Florida, where they launched the company that would build the original Storm Boats. Yet through all those moves, the family continued to return to Ossipee every summer. Their connection to New Hampshire’s lakes shaped their love of boating and craftsmanship long before Correct Craft became a national leader in marine innovation. In many ways, this boat’s story begins on our waters.

This work is strengthened by extraordinary partners: The Wright Museum of World War II, whose historical insight ensures accuracy and reverence, and the Antique Outboard Motor Club, whose technical expertise brings the boat’s heart—its engine—back to life. Together, we are not simply recreating a vessel. We are preserving a story of courage, craftsmanship, and New Hampshire heritage. This Storm Boat will stand as a living tribute to the people who built it, the soldiers who trusted it, and the generations who will learn from it.

Exhibit planned for Summer 2026

Career Exploration Takes Center Stage on New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail

Education Week Participants at Canterbury Shaker Village

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s Career Exploration in the Old Building Trades program is traveling across the state, including Canterbury Shaker Village on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail.

The program, which introduces participants ages 16 to 21 to careers in historic preservation trades, completed its February 23-27 session and will return for a second week, April 27 through May 1, 2026. Sessions take place at Canterbury Shaker Village, demonstrating how historic sites serve as active centers for education and workforce development.

“The Career Exploration program exemplifies exactly why the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail remains so relevant today,” said Jeff Barraclough, Trail President. “Our member sites aren’t just repositories of the past – they’re dynamic educational centers where young people can connect with living traditions and build skills for the future.”

The hands-on program addresses a critical workforce shortage in preservation trades across the Northeast. In the program, participants engage with experienced mentors in timber framing, horse hair plastering, stone wall repair, slate and copper roofing, wood window restoration, electrical work, blacksmithing, and more.

Activities at Canterbury Shaker Village take place in the Horse Barn, Cart Shed, Power House, and Hubbard Gallery. The program will also take place at Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon.

“We’re grateful to our hosts at Canterbury Shaker Village and Sanborn Mills Farm, and all the dedicated professionals and supporters who make this program possible,” said Althea Barton, who works on special projects for the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance. “All the young participants learn new things, and some end the week ready to commit to a chosen trade.”

whole group

At Canterbury Shaker Village, students will learn to apply wet plaster to wood lath, fish electrical wires through walls, build dry stone walls, make timber framing pegs and wood mallets, shape copper sheets, glaze wood windows, and install wood shingles on a 19th-century privy.

“The exposure to these specialized skills is one of the best ways to generate interest in pursuing these trades as actual careers,” said Garrett Bethmann, Manager of Communications and Engagement at Canterbury Shaker Village.

Many of the tradespeople featured during these weeks have been involved with different preservation and conservation projects at the Village. “They are showcasing actual skills and knowledge that are used both here and at other historic sites,” said Bethmann, who noted preservation is just as much about the future as it is history.

“Investing in opportunities to not only connect with our current preservation partners but also to educate and grow the next generation is a fulfilling and worthy cause,” he added.

The New Hampshire Preservation Alliance strengthens communities and local economies by supporting revitalization and protection of historic buildings and places, including through its Preservation Trades Initiative. In addition to Canterury Shaker Village, the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail features members in the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Enfield Shaker Museum Joins New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail

Brethren’s East Shop at Enfield Shaker Museum

The Enfield Shaker Museum, a 40-year-old institution preserving the legacy of one of New Hampshire’s most significant religious communities, has joined the NH Heritage Museum Trail.

“We’re seeing more and more museums understand that collaboration isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential to thrive in today’s cultural landscape,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “Their decision to join us demonstrates how forward-thinking institutions are embracing collaboration to expand their reach and strengthen their impact.”

Founded in 1986 by Carolyn Smith with humble beginnings—a card table under the west stairs of the Great Stone Dwelling and a small money box—the Enfield Shaker Museum has grown into a significant cultural institution. Smith led the effort to establish the museum’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and spearheaded the process of regaining ownership of the historic Shaker property.

“When I started this museum 40 years ago, I understood even then that preservation work couldn’t happen in isolation,” said Carolyn Smith, Acting Director. “Now, as we celebrate our 40th anniversary, joining the Heritage Trail represents our commitment to the collaborative spirit that has always driven our success. We’ve learned that when cultural institutions work together, we all become stronger.”

The Enfield Shaker community was established in 1793 and operated until 1923, when the remaining Shakers moved to Canterbury, New Hampshire. The museum offers year-round programming, permanent and rotating exhibits, guided tours, craft workshops and demonstrations, educational programs, and hiking trails.

The 2026 season features special exhibitions including “Sweet Summer Land” and “Keeping Warm,” along with Fiber Arts Weekend (March 20-22), the annual Shaker Forum (April 17-19), and a 40th Anniversary Opening Day celebration on May 13.For more information about Enfield Shaker Museum, visit shakermuseum.org.

In looking ahead to the 2026 season, Barraclough said this latest addition to The Trail strengthens its footprint across the state. “We have nearly doubled in size over the past 10 years,” he said. “This growth helps spotlight individual members and our entire group.”

Enfield Shaker Museum is one of more than two-dozen member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, located in the Lakes Region, White Mountains, Dartmouth-Sunapee Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Click here to learn more about Enfield Shaker Museum.