Community Valentine’s Project Highlights Portsmouth’s Rich History

A Valentine made for the Community Valentine’s Project

In early February, Portsmouth Historical Society hosted its first Community Valentine’s Project to show love for places and buildings in Portsmouth. In total, approximately two dozen Valentines were crafted during the event and subsequently hung on the City of Portsmouth’s “Tree of Love” in Market Square for a week after the event.

“This program was conceptualized by our newest staff member, Verity Boyer, who is passionate about sharing the importance of historic preservation with the community,” said Marketing Manager Sabina Ion. “Her idea was to show our love and appreciation for the buildings and spaces around us that impact people’s lives and bring joy to the community.”

Valentines contained messages to locations around Portsmouth, including the John Paul Jones House, Moffatt-Ladd House, Rockingham lions, former Daily Times Building, Ona Judge mural, Strawberry Banke Museum, Memorial Bridge, and African Burying Grounds. “The messages draw attention to how people are still interacting with the monuments of our past and show what an impact the historic character of this city has on the current residents,” Ion said.

Portsmouth Historical Society is a member of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail. “This event promoted connection to place, history, and culture in a fun and creative way,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “We hope people can turn to museums on The Trail for not just education, but fun experiences for the entire family.”

According to Ion, Portsmouth Historical Society plans to make the Community Valentine’s Project an annual event in partnership with the City of Portsmouth. “This program supports our mission of connecting the community to our past, present, and future,” she explained. Click here to learn more Portsmouth Historical Society.

In addition to the Portsmouth Historical Society in Portsmouth, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

New England Racing Museum Celebrates “TrueLOVE” in February

Russ Truelove’s 1956 Mercury

New England Racing Museum is offering $5 off admission in February in honor of “TrueLOVE”, where they will feature the 1956 Mercury Russ Truelove famously raced and crashed on the Daytona Beach and Road Course.

The Mercury has been loaned to New England Racing Museum by the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “It is the only New England car to compete in the Daytona Beach and Road course that survives,” said Ruth Thompson, New England Racing Museum Deputy Director & Assistant to the President.

After qualifying 5th in the “flying mile time trial” at the Daytona course in 1956, Truelove rolled the Mercury six times. The crash was later featured in Life Magazine. In addition to the repaired car, the display at New England Racing Museum features the magazine spread and a film clip of the crash.

“The car is in great condition,” said Thompson. “The interior looks as it did when Truelove raced it with its original dashboard, steering wheel, crank windows, and bench seat. It has become a lot of visitors’ favorite car to see.”

Truelove’s daughter, Robin Truelove Stronk of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, said her father “lived to race.” “He literally took a stock car on a payment plan from the showroom floor where he worked as a salesman with the idea of racing it in the 1956 Grand National at Daytona,” she said.

When situations went awry, such as after the crash, her father always said, “’I’ll think of something,’” added Truelove Stronk.

New England Racing Museum is offering $5 off admission for in February. This month, the museum gift shop is also promoting its first women’s t-shirt in the shade of raspberry for $20. Click here for more information about New England Racing Museum.

In addition to the New England Racing Museum in Loudon, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

The Trail Holds Professional Development Day for Educators

The “Cultivating Teacher Care” event at Castle in the Clouds in 2024

On Thursday, February 6, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough will host their second annual Professional Development Day for educators, Cultivating Teacher Care at the Castle.

“We want to provide a unique and relaxing day of learning that showcases Castle in the Clouds and all we have to offer,” said Debbi Finkelstein, Director of Education & Partnerships at Castle in the Clouds. “Our mission is all about sharing and educating, so this program fits in perfectly.”

The event is designed for educators who teach kindergarten through grade 12, but Finkelstein said preschool teachers and college level instructors are also welcome. During the event, educators will have the opportunity to network and participate in activities such as mindfulness journaling, crafting, and yoga. The event will also feature an informational session, Good Food, Good Mood, with nutritionist Katy Magoon and From Canvas to Film: Exploring the Art & Artists of Lucknow, a presentation by Castle in the Clouds Curator & Director of Preservation Robin Sherman.

According to Trail President Jeff Barraclough, events like these are “at the heart of our mission to connect the public with our culturally rich member institutions.” He added, “Supporting educators in the state and beyond means we are also supporting the next generation’s stewards of history.”

Educators at last year’s event

Taking place on Thursday, February 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cultivating Teacher Care at the Castle requires pre-registration and costs $150 per person. Lunch will be provided along with a short hike around the property, weather permitting. Each educator will be entered into a raffle with the opportunity to win a complimentary Castle in the Clouds Family Membership, a Family Four Pack, and a $50 gift certificate for use at the estate.

Interested educators in New Hampshire and surrounding states can pre-register and learn more here. Castle in the Clouds will also host a free annual Teacher Open House in June with more information to be released soon.

In addition to Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Revolutionary Women

A Hetchel

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Hetchels were used to break down flax into silky fibers that were spun into thread. The thread was then woven into linen. In 1764, Parliament passed the Sugar Act, taxing imported textiles. To protest this tax, women boycotted imported fabrics and made more linen to lessen dependence on British wool. During a time when women were banned from political participation, boycotts provided ways for women to make their voices heard. The Daughters of Liberty organized spinning circles to support this boycott and the Sugar Act was repealed within two years. With the introduction of cotton in the south, flax fell out of favor in the north, placing more pressure on southern industry and contributing to the tragedy of the Atlantic slave trade.

The impact of textile protests can still be seen in today’s American culture in the black armbands traditionally worn as a symbol of mourning. In the earlier colonial period, people wore mourning clothes when a loved one died. To reduce the need for imported fabric, colonial Americans began to use mourning armbands during the boycotts, which reduced fabric consumption and lessened dependence on imported textiles.

National Historic Landmark Designated on NH Heritage Museum Trail

The Lucknow Estate (Castle in the Clouds) in Moultonborough, NH

In December, the Lucknow Estate (Castle in the Clouds), a New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail member, was designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. This designation is the highest level of Federal recognition for a historic site.

“Having the Lucknow Estate recognized for its exceptional integrity and significance in both architecture and landscape architecture is a testament to the importance of preserving our nation’s history,” said Castle in the Clouds Executive Director Charles Clark. “It is particularly gratifying that our work to preserve, interpret, and share this special place has been recognized.”

Built between 1913 and 1914, the estate initially sat on 6,300 acres and was a retirement retreat for shoe manufacturer Thomas Gustave Plant and his wife, Olive Plant. The recent National Historic Landmark designation includes over 5,300 acres protected by partner organizations Castle Preservation Society and the Lakes Region Conservation Trust, making the Lucknow Estate the largest geographical Historic Landmark District in the state.

According to Clark, the road to designation was “an intense process with multiple steps.” The Lucknow Estate is now one of roughly 2,600 National Historic Landmarks in the country and one of 24 in New Hampshire.

“We hope that this designation encourages even more people to visit the Estate and see first-hand the beauty and integrity that make it one of the most special places in the country,” added Clark. “The Castle Preservation Society will continue to strive for the highest level of historic preservation, just as we have since taking over the restoration and operation of the property in 2006.”

Click here to learn more about the Lucknow Estate and its history.

In addition to Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Grant to Fund “Preservation in Action” on NH Heritage Museum Trail

From left – LCHIP Board Chair Richard Lewis, Gov. Chris Sununu, AIM Board President Joe Pace, LCHIP Executive Director Paula Bellemore. Photo credit – Joe Klementovich

The American Independence Museum (AIM), a member of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, has been awarded a $170,590 matching grant for a major restoration project to preserve the historic Ladd-Gilman House. The grant was awarded by the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP).

Trail President Jeff Barraclough expressed gratitude for LCHIP’s contribution to funding the restoration project. “The Ladd-Gilman House is a historically significant structure in the state,” he said. “This grant will help preserve history and bring awareness to other historic buildings and sites on The Trail.”

Built in 1721 by Nathaniel Ladd as one of the state’s first brick houses, AIM’s Ladd-Gilman House was purchased in 1747 by Daniel Gilman, a prominent Exeter merchant. The Ladd-Gilman House served as the state treasury during the Revolutionary War when two members of the Gilman family, Col. Nicholas Gilman and his son John Taylor Gilman, later the state’s governor, served as state treasurer. The house was also the birthplace of Nicholas Gilman, Jr., a signer of the United States Constitution and a U.S. senator.

“This project is vital for the longevity of the Ladd-Gilman House,” said AIM Interim Executive Director Jennifer Carr. “It ensures that the house is not only visually beautiful for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026 but is well preserved for future generations.”

According to Carr, preservation work will include window restoration, foundation repair, structural work, repairs to doors, jambs, and thresholds, asbestos abatement, and exterior work on damaged clapboards and paint. “I love that we are able to show guests what historic preservation really looks like,” Carr added. “Preservation is part of our mission, but people rarely see all that is involved in keeping centuries-old buildings standing. This project is a wonderful opportunity for guests to see preservation in action.”

Per LCHIP grant guidelines, AIM is required to match each dollar plus at least one additional dollar to fund the project.

Carr noted that people can expect to see exterior renovation work over the next two years.
“As we move toward the nation’s Semiquincentennial, there is an increased opportunity to bring attention to the need to preserve places with ties to the American Revolution,” she said. “This generous grant allows us to do just that.”

In addition to the American Independence Museum in Exeter, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Raid on Fort William and Mary

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On the afternoon of December 14, 1774, John Sullivan and John Langdon led patriotic supporters in a raid against Fort William and Mary, now Fort Constitution, in Portsmouth. At about three o’clock a few shots were exchanged between the patriots and the king’s soldiers, but no one was injured. Before a second volley could be shot, the fort was overrun, the king’s colors were lowered, and patriots made off with 97 barrels of powder, some of which was used the following June at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Sullivan returned the next day, December 15, to seize the fort’s cannons.

The raid was prompted by a message from Boston, carried by Paul Revere, warning that royal troops were on their way to reinforce the fort.

Why is this armed engagement not more widely spoken about? Perhaps it’s the numbers. Over 400 patriotic supporters overwhelmed a mere six king’s soldiers. Perhaps it’s the fact that Britain chose to focus on the growing unrest in Massachusetts. Nevertheless, the raid on Fort William and Mary was an act of deliberate revolt and the first fully organized, large-scale armed attack against the authority of the British monarchy.

Image caption: “An explanation on the prospect draft of the Fort William and Mary on [Piscataqua} River,” 1705, courtesy of the Library of Congress. Image text: A watercolor drawing of a colonial town in the background and a fort on the shoreline in the foreground. The British flag is waving over the fort. Two men in military uniform look out over the water.

Portsmouth Historical Society Showcases Sweet Traditions with Gingerbread Contest

Last year’s best first-time entry award went to Penny and Charlotte for “Christmas at John’s House”
Photo credit – Portsmouth Historical Society

On Friday, November 29, the 34th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition opens at the Portsmouth Historical Society on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail. This year’s theme is “Holiday Memories,” where participants were encouraged to make their favorite holiday memories out of gingerbread.

Featuring a Reception and Judges’ Award Presentation on Friday, December 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the 34th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition closes on Monday, December 30. “This year’s gingerbread displays promise to bring the spirit of the holidays to life through warm family memories and winter pastimes,” said Marketing Manager Sabina Ion. “This annual event is a truly unique way to celebrate the magic of the season.”

Click here to learn more about this and other holiday-themed events at Portsmouth Historical Society.

According to Jeff Barraclough, President of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, the 34th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition is “one of many festive events” on The Trail. “From Portsmouth to the Lakes Region and Manchester, there is plenty of holiday cheer for all ages on The Trail this season,” he said. “Explore and share the holidays with us.”

In addition to the Portsmouth Historical Society in Portsmouth, member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

The Trail Lights Up For The Holidays

Christmas at the Castle at Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough

This year, nearly two-dozen member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail will celebrate the holidays with special programs and events. “This is going to be a festive season on The Trail,” said The Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “There are plenty of opportunities for guests to get into the holiday spirit with the whole family.”

One opportunity is on Saturday, December 7 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Canterbury Shaker Village, which will feature music from Symphony New Hampshire Quartet. The concert, Merry Merry Canterbury Concert & Cocktails, will take place in the Dwelling House Chapel and be followed by a reception with appetizers and drinks in the Hubbard Gallery.

“This is going to be a lively and festive event that will kick off the holidays at the Village,” said Executive Director Erin Hammerstedt. “The Dwelling House Chapel is a beautiful location for music, and the entire Village will be stunning when it’s decorated.” Tickets for Merry Merry Canterbury Concert & Cocktails are $35. Click here to purchase tickets.

In Moultonborough, Castle in the Clouds will hold their annual Christmas at the Castle event from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. over three consecutive weekends, November 23 and 24, November 30 and December 1, and December 7 and 8. “We added an extra weekend this year for visitors to tour the beautifully decorated historic Lucknow Mansion,” said Charles Clark, executive director at Castle in the Clouds. “This year’s holiday theme, Home for the Holidays, brings a cozy, nostalgic touch to the festive season.”

According to Clark, the theme offers a modern twist on the legacy of the original owners, Tom and Olive Plant. “They crafted a place filled with personal touches, early 20th century innovations, and stunning views that create a sense of warmth and hospitality,” he added. During event days, Castle in the Clouds will also feature Tours, an Artisan Fair, photos with Santa Claus, crafts, and hot cocoa and cookies. The Carriage House Restaurant will also be open. Tickets for Christmas at the Castle are $25 for adults, $15 for those ages 5 through 17, and free for children 4 and under. Click here to purchase tickets online or tickets can be bought at the Carriage House on event days.

On Saturday, December 7, the Millyard Museum in Manchester will also host holiday events. From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Holiday Open House will feature crafts, old-fashioned board games, and a visit with Santa Claus from noon to 1:00 p.m. Holiday Open House is free.

Millyard Museum will also host Home for the Holidays American Girl Tea Party on Saturday, December 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At this event, guests will enjoy crafts, treats, and stories about how different cultures and time periods celebrated Christmas and other winter holidays. Click here to purchase tickets, priced at $20.

“It’s a wonderful time of year to visit The Trail,” Barraclough added. “History can be festive.”

In addition to Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, or Millyard Museum in Manchester, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Scouts Earn Merit Badges on New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail

The exhibit floor at the L.L. Lee Scouting Museum

The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail offers Scouts the opportunity to earn the Scouting Heritage Merit Badge by studying Scouting history in-person and virtually at the L.L. Lee Scouting Museum in Manchester, New Hampshire, owned by Daniel Webster Council, Scouting America.

“The Scouting Heritage Merit Badge requires researching the history of Scouting, which is right up our alley,” said Joe Biedrzycki, Communications Director and Volunteer Coordinator. “It includes learning about the founder of Scouting, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, and we have an exceptional collection of artifacts about his life, including items from his home.”

These include BP’s original, hand-drawn illustrations, a first edition of Scouting for Boys, and historic uniforms, pins, and badges that date back to Scouting’s origins in 1907 England. “The Scouting Heritage Merit Badge was introduced in 2010 for BSA’s 100th anniversary,” said Biedrzycki. “There are 137 different subjects Scouts can explore to earn merit badges, and 14 merit badges are required among the 21 needed to earn the Eagle Scout rank.”

In addition to artifacts and information about Baden-Powell, the Scouting Museum has exhibits on Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Exploring, Venturing, and Girl Scouting. “We constantly add and rotate things in and out of the permanent collection,” explained Biedrzycki. “The concept is that you can come to the Scouting Museum any number of times, and it’s a little different every time.”

According to Biedrzycki, the museum’s impact extends beyond their brick and mortar headquarters. “We bring pieces of our collection and a portable exhibit to the West Point Camporee every spring-—it’s the largest weekend Scout encampment in the nation,” he said. Noting 5,000 kids from across the country camp out on the campus, Biedrzycki said the West Point Camporee is run by the Scoutmasters’ Council, founded by the large number of cadets who are Eagle Scouts.

Recently, he said museum staff attended a similar event, Norwich University Scouting Association Camporee. “On October 11, we also went to the New England Shooting Sports Symposium at Hidden Valley Scout Reservation,” he added.

According to Trail President Jeff Barraclough, the Scouting Museum’s broad impact exemplifies the scope of The Trail itself. “All museums on The Trail have an impact that extends far beyond their respective walls,” he said. “We appreciate the Scouting Museum’s unique expertise, as it reaches current and past Scouts throughout the nation—their impact extends The Trail’s reach, too.”

Offering free admission, the Scouting Museum is open Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and select Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. year-round. Private tours are also available by request. Click here to learn more about the Scouting Museum or request a tour.

In addition to the L.L. Lee Scouting Museum in Manchester, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail Welcomes Erin Hammerstedt

Erin Hammerstedt, Executive Director of Canterbury Shaker Village

In September, the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail welcomed Erin Hammerstedt as the new Executive Director of Canterbury Shaker Village. A longtime member institution of the Trail, the Village is designated as a National Historic Landmark with 25 restored original Shaker buildings and four reconstructed Shaker buildings.

“We are honored to welcome Erin,” said Trail President Jeff Barraclough. “She brings a wealth of historic preservation experience that is truly unmatched. Erin is an asset not only to Canterbury Shaker Village but to the entire Trail.”

Hammerstedt most recently served as Director of Historic Harrisville, Inc., a local nonprofit that rehabilitates historic buildings in the mill town of Harrisville, New Hampshire. She holds a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation and has worked in multiple nonprofit roles involving the preservation and use of historic structures. She has also worked as a consultant on public projects that include historic resources and as a staff member for a historic district commission.

“I am a firm believer in the importance of authenticity,” said Hammerstedt. “Materials can be made to look like things, but they are not the real thing. Here, at Canterbury Shaker Village, things are as real as they get.”

During her first year as Executive Director, Hammerstedt said she plans to “learn as much as [she] can about the place and the things that have happened [there] from its origination to the present.” “I want to make sure we retain its important essence while allowing it to live on well into the future,” she added.

Describing the Village as “magical,” Hammerstedt said she was drawn to the combination of Shaker quality and Shaker story as well as “the amazing” staff already in place. “I am honored to be part of this amazing team in this truly one-of-a-kind place,” she noted.

Click here to learn more about Canterbury Shaker Village, including its ongoing celebration, Commemorating 250 Years: Shakerism in America. In addition to Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

Students “Take Flight” on New Hampshire Heritage Trail

Students visiting the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire stand in front of a plane at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, a member of the New Hampshire Heritage Trail, is ramping up student excitement about airplanes and aviation careers through hands-on programming and experiences.

“The largest manufacturing export in New Hampshire is aviation and aerospace, and there is currently a shortage of trained professionals in all parts of aviation,” said Jeff Rapsis, Executive Director of the Aviation Museum. “We want to inspire young people to consider these careers.”

Located along Runway 17-35, the longest at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, the Aviation Museum offers guests the opportunity to watch planes take off from the parking lot year-round. Inside the museum, visitors can experience rotating exhibits and artifacts related to the Granite State’s flying history.

For Trail President Jeff Barraclough, the Aviation Museum has the potential to impact the future of aviation in New Hampshire. “Students step into this museum and are able to imagine being a pilot or an engineer or a ground controller,” he said. “It’s a unique opportunity to get people thinking about their future careers at an early age.”

According to Rapsis, their programs are directed toward very young children through high school age students. Featuring toy planes, Legos, and coloring activities available for younger children, older kids get the chance to participate in hands-on aviation activities, such as piloting an aircraft in a professional-grade flight simulator.

“It mimics the exact experience of flight,” added Rapsis. “It really allows students to step into aviation.”

Student using a flight simulator

In Manchester, Lebanon, and Farmington high schools, the Aviation Museum also offers a program where students build a functional, full-size, two-seat airplane over a two-year period. “This allows students to garner real-world experience working directly on an aircraft,” Rapsis explained.

The Aviation Museum currently has an exhibit open that explores early board games related to flight. In the fall, the museum will offer several game nights. “These games show the public’s early fascination with flight,” said Rapsis.

Other offerings include a Halloween event during which young people in costume will go to “ground school” and meet the ghosts of aviation past in order to obtain a “broomstick pilots license” on Saturday, October 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Weather-permitting, on Saturday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m. Santa Claus will arrive at the Aviation Museum by helicopter to meet fans.

The Aviation Museum is open Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. To learn more about upcoming events, programs, and activities, visit aviationmuseumofnh.org.

In addition to the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Manchester, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.