All museums are now open on the NH Heritage Trail, which stretches from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points north and west. Conceived as a way to connect some of the most culturally significant museums in the Granite State, The Trail features a full lineup of events and programs in 2017 for all ages.
Millyard Museum
At the Millyard Museum in Manchester, kids will travel back through time at an exciting Time Travelers Summer Camp from July 10 to July 14. Topics will include Native Americans, Archaeology, Inventions, and the Industrial Revolution.
“The Millyard Museum tells the story of Manchester and the people who have lived and worked here—the story starts with the native peoples who fished at Amoskeag Falls thousands of years ago,” said the museum’s Jeff Barraclough. “The camp will be a fun look at how Manchester started and take participants into the 21 century where the story is still unfolding.”
To learn more about the camp, visit www.manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.
Lake Winnipesaukee Museum
In Laconia on July 15, the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum will host “Child Labor in New England,” which will feature Robert Macieski, who will discuss child labor in New England during the early 20th century.
“His lecture will explore the various occupations children worked,” said the museum’s director Alison Rush. “He will help tell this story through the photography of Lewis W Hine.”
This lecture is part of Lake Winnipesaukee Museum’s summer lecture series, which features local historians lecturing on a variety of topics relating to New Hampshire and the Lakes Region history.
To learn more, visit www.lwhs.us.
Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm
In Tamworth, visitors will enjoy activities throughout the summer beginning June 17 and running through September 2.
At this historic working farmstead, people can literally try their hands at goat milking, explore the barns and buildings on the property, take a country doctor tour, or walk the Binsack Trail.
“The grounds make for a wonderful picnic spot, too, and we offer several farm-to-table events throughout the summer,” added Executive Director Cara Sutherland.
To learn more, visit www.remickmuseum.org.
American Independence Museum
In Exeter at the American Independence Museum, visitors can learn about and experience what life was lik
e during the latter half of the 1700’s with costumed tour guides, summer camps and themed events.
On July 15, the museum’s signature event takes place with the American Independence Festival.
“It’s a chance for people to see traditional colonial artisans at work, see battles between militia, talk to colonial re-enactors, and see one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence,” said the museum’s Emma Bray.
To learn more, visit www.independencemuseum.org.
The Trail
The 17 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village, Castle in the Clouds, Currier Museum of Art, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.
Featuring 16 museums within a 100-mile radius between Portsmouth and Plymouth, New Hampshire, the NH Heritage Museum Trail takes visitors on a 350-year journey through the history of the Granite State. In total, The Trail includes more than 100,000 items in its member museums, although that is only part of what has made it so popular among visitors.
“Our museums are developing family-friendly programming and events that engage people of all ages,” said Michael Culver, executive director of the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro. “The Trail is much more than a place to house artifacts.”
The Museum of the White Mountains in Plymouth, for instance, often features award-winning art from acclaimed artists with a national reputation. In Exeter at the American Independence Museum, visitors can glimpse one of the few remaining original Dunlap Broadside printings of the Declaration of Independence at its regionally known American Independence Festival each July. In Londonderry at the Aviation Museum of NH, visitors can “fly” an airplane in a cutting-edge simulator or discover a rich aviation history that rivals that of any other state.
More than a static collection of historic relics, The Trail takes people through some of the most beautiful natural scenery in the nation, too, as well as to towns and cities that belong on a postcard. The city of Portsmouth, for example, has often been in contention for “best small-town in America” with a history that extends back to 1622. Just a few miles north, Dover is known as “the 7th Settlement” in the nation with its history dating to 1623.
At any given point on The Trail, visitors are no more than a handful of minutes from either the Atlantic Ocean, the White 
Mountains, rivers, streams and more. With more than 225,000 visitors in 2016, the NH Heritage Trail is also an increasingly important vehicle for tourism in the state with more museums clamoring each year for consideration as a member.
“There are hidden gems around every corner on The Trail,” said Jessica Pappathan, executive director of the Aviation Museum of NH. “Come visit us.”
Museums on The Trail
The Trail includes the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.
On Thursday, May 4, the Portsmouth Historical Society will celebrate its Centennial at a free celebration that kicks off an exciting 4 days of activity.
“We have so much going on here—it is so exciting to share what we have to offer to resident and tourist alike,” said Executive Director Kathleen Soldati.
On Friday, the Centennial Celebration will be followed up by opening of the exhibit, “200 Years of Portsmouth Athenaeum: Collect, Preserve, Share,” which runs until September 1. According to Soldati, the exhibit answers two fundamental questions: What is an athenaeum and why do we need one? Named for the goddess Athena, athenaeums were membership organizations that were very popular in the early 19th century.
“They served as libraries, periodical reading rooms, social clubs, cultural centers, museums and other uses,” said Soldati. “Today, the Portsmouth Athenaeum is the place to find information about Portsmouth’s past.”
After the launch of Portsmouth Historical Society’s popular Historic Walking Tours on Saturday May 6, the institution will then join in the celebration of Pro Portsmouth’s annual Children’s Day on Sunday, May 7 with family friendly activities. Sunday, May 7 also marks a lecture by members of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters at 2 pm as part of the exhibition, “Four Centuries of Furniture in Portsmouth.”
To learn more about these events and the Portsmouth Historical Society, visit www.portsmouthhistory.org.
In Exeter, the American Independence Museum will host its Opening Celebration on Saturday, May 6 from 10 am to 4 pm. At the event, admission will be free for all New Hampshire residents.
“We have new exhibits opening, hands-on activities for kids—and the Town of Exeter will be hosting Kid’s’ Day,” said Emma Bray, executive director.
According to Bray, the opening of their 2017 season helps to usher in a renewed emphasis on education at the museum, which is home to thousands of items from the 1700s. She said the museum’s Traveling Trunk program, which provides experiential learning directly in the classroom, is just one example.
“History is often overlooked as a key component in the wheel of education,” she said. “What history can teach a young person—or anyone for that matter—is the importance of critical thinking and how lessons learned from the past can be applied to the present.”
Other new programs at the American Independence Museum include Revolutionary Story Time, which is geared toward pre-school age children. The program will take place from 9:30 am to 10:30 am at the museum’s historic Folsom Tavern beginning on Thursday, May 4. It will continue on the first Thursday of each month in June, September, October and November on the dates of June 1, September 7, October 5, and November 2, respectively.
To learn more about these and other events and programs at the museum, visit www.independencemuseum.org.
The 16 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.
With most museums on the NH Heritage Trail now open—or close to opening—for the 2017 season, both locals and tourists are in for a treat.
At the Aviation Museum of NH in Londonderry, “Celebrating Flight!” will open on May 13 and run through May 28. The museum’s first paper airplane exhibit, submissions for “Celebrating Flight!” will be accepted from May 1 to May 13.
“We are excited to host our first paper airplane exhibit at the museum,” said Executive Director Jessica Pappathan. “We encourage creativity in design, and hope to inspire enthusiasm for flight. To quote the Aviation Museum of NH’s first Director, Vincent Devino, ‘The excitement of flight can begin with a paper airplane—this is sure to be a unique and fun exhibit.'”
To be considered for acceptance in the exhibit, airplanes should be less than 18″ in width, height or length. “We are all very excited to see the submissions that come through for the exhibit,” added Pappathan. “This will help kick off a very busy summer for us.”
The mission of the Aviation Museum of NH is to preserve New Hampshire aviation history through dynamic and hands-on exhibits and programs. For more information about “Celebrating Flight!” or the museum, visit www.aviationmuseumofnh.org.
In Wolfeboro, The Libby Museum—a museum of natural history—opens on June 1 and features one of the most unusual collections on The Trail.
“Dr. Henry Libby grew up in Tuftonboro and became a collector in his adult life,” explained new Executive Director Alana Albee. “In 1912, he built a home for his collections, which visitors can see today as they were last century. If you want to see how museums looked 100 years ago, this is the place.”
The collection includes everything from displays of butterflies and moths to Abenaki relics, bears, birds and even a polar
Kids in Lil’ Sprouts program enjoy the museum with Mrs. Libby
bear. Reflecting its unique and wide-ranging collection, events and programs at The Libby are designed to engage visitors of all ages.
In July and August, visitors can enjoy free live animal shows every Wednesday at 2pm, while the work of local young, award-winning photographers will be featured in July. In August, award winning nature photographer Roger Irwin’s work will be on display. In addition, the popular Lil’Sprouts, ‘Kamp Kindness’ program will provide activities for ages 5-8, to enjoy hands-on creativity, enviro-science and art.
“It is a great place for all ages,” added Albee. “Come see our collection, picnic by the lake and take the kids on our nature trail.”
The Libby Museum has historic status and is registered on the US Government’s list of “Historic Places.” It represents one of the oldest institutions of its kind. To learn more about The Libby, visit www.thelibbymuseum.org.
The 16 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.
Featuring 16 museums, the NH Heritage Trail is not just for history buffs, but for the entire family.
“Individually and collectively, we have developed programs, exhibits and events that are designed for people of all ages,” said Michael Culver, NH Heritage Trail President and Executive Director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro. History can be fun and it can be educational at the same time.”
Antique Show at Castle in the Clouds
At the Wright Museum, for instance, Sunday, July 9 will mark Family Day in which visitors can enjoy rides around Wolfeboro in period World War II vehicles. In addition, there will be magic shows, “Mo” the balloon artist, face painters, and two live animal shows presented by the staff of Squam Lake Natural Science Center.
“There will also be live music by the New England Country Boys,” added Culver. “Food will be available, too, and a variety of family-oriented games for children of all ages.”
For more information, visit www.wrightmuseum.org.
At the New Hampshire Boat Museum in Wolfeboro, there are numerous family programs available this summer—all of which involve a hands-on approach to learning. The month of July may be the height of activity at the museum with Adult/Family Boat Building, Youth Boat Building, and Lake Discovery Camp.
“We also have a number of community sailing programs that have grown in popularity in recent years,” said Executive Director Lisa Simpson Lutts. “Through the work of volunteers, the Town of Wolfeboro and many others, we have grown this program to include more than 20 boats. Whether you or your child has an interest in sailing, we have the opportunities here.”
To learn more about the New Hampshire Boat Museum, visit www.nhbm.org.
At Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm in Tamworth, numerous hands-on activities and tours will take place daily throughout the summer.
“We offer guided discovery tours of our barns, the farm—which includes meet-and-greets with farm animals, and our ‘crown jewel,’ the Captain Enoch Remick House,” said Marketing Coordinator Dawne Gilpatrick.
There are also numerous “self-discovery opportunities” at Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm, including activities in the Farm Discovery Room, self-guided explorations and a farm stand open daily.
“We have livestock that children can see up close,” added Gilpatrick. “You could easily spend an entire day here and still have more to do.”
To learn more, visit www.remickmuseum.org.
At the New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton on Saturday, June 3, Family Fun with Dairy and Sheep Dog Trial will feature children’s hands-on games and activities as well interactive demonstrations.
“You will learn how to make homemade yogurt, churn Mason jar butter, and enjoy ice cream you make yourself,” said Executive Director Mark Foynes. “A sampling of cheeses made by Museum volunteers and yogurt donated by Stonyfield Farm will also be part of the fun.”
In addition, the event will include an officially-timed and judged sheep dog trial as well as educational presentations about the use of sheep milk in cheese making.
Other events at the New Hampshire Farm Museum include Civil War Encampment, Children’s Corgiville Fair, and Olde Time Tavern Day.
For more information, visit www.farmmuseum.org.
Other highlights on The Trail this summer include an Antique & Classic Auto Event at Castle in the Clouds on July 8 in Moultonborough and the American Independence Festival at the American Independence Museum in Exeter on July 15.
Search for ‘New Hampshire Heritage Trail’ and find The Trail on Facebook.
The 16 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, New Hampshire Farm Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.
With the increased importance placed on STEM education, history has in some cases been removed almost entirely from the classroom, which has provided a unique opportunity for museums on the NH Heritage Trail.
“There are 17 of us throughout New Hampshire, and it is our responsibility to educate and inspire people about American history and culture —especially the younger generations,” said Michael Culver, NH Heritage Trail President and Executive Director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro. “Understanding our history helps us shape our future.”
New Hampshire Historical Society museum teacher Edie Daigle exhibits a beaver pelt to fourth graders from Maple Ave. School in Goffstown, NH. The pelt is one of several “touchable” artifacts presented to students during a hands-on field trip to the Discovering New Hampshire exhibition at the Society. Courtesy of the New Hampshire Historical Society.
With many schools unable to schedule as much history in their educational programming as in the past, some museums have had to alter their own approach to accommodate such “gaps.”
“In the past four or five years, we’ve seen a precipitous decline in historical knowledge among our student visitors that has compelled us to actually modify our programs,” said Elizabeth Dubrulle of the New Hampshire Historical Society.
She said they actually removed one program— New Hampshire at War—from circulation.
“We were spending so much time explaining to kids what the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World War II were that we never had a chance to discuss the New Hampshire part,” she said.
In forming The Trail 3 years ago, Culver said they wanted to leverage the respective resources of each member museum, but he acknowledged he did not anticipate its increasingly important role.
“It’s an opportunity for all of us to work together and develop programming that addresses the educational needs that exist with our students today,” he said.
At the American Independence Museum in Exeter, Executive Director Emma Bray said they are ready to formally launch their Traveling Trunk program. Funded by the NH Charitable Foundation, the program brings the museum experience into the classroom and enables them to reach students during its closed season from December to April.
“We have developed a curriculum in partnership with teachers–and each trunk comes with over 70 items that help tell the story of New Hampshire during the Revolution,” she said. “It’s an incredible program and one we believe can enhance the educational experience for hundreds of kids annually.”
According to Dubrulle, there is current research that demonstrates a correlation between learning history and several educational outcomes that can impact a child’s long-term life outlook.
“The study of the humanities is directly tied to the development of creativity and encourages American kids—who will eventually become American workers—to innovate,” she said. “Studying history also provides essential information for sound decision-making…By looking at the challenges of the past and doing some critical thinking about what worked and what didn’t, kids hopefully apply those lessons to their own situation.”
In looking at the educational landscape across the Granite State, Culver said he believes member museums on The Trail have an opportunity to expand their respective footprints.
“We do not just preserve collections,” he said. “We are active and important members of the community and we have the capacity to educate today’s younger citizens in ways that might surprise some people…History is relevant—and the research is now bearing that out.”
The 17 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, New Hampshire Historical Society, 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.
Part of the NH Heritage Trail, which stretches from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points north and west, the Millyard Museum recently opened a new exhibit entitled, “Doctor’s Orders: Public Health in Manchester.”
Open through June 24, the exhibit tells the story of Manchester’s longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of its citizens. “From the earliest days of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, this community was remarkably progressive in its efforts to foster a culture of health,” said John Clayton, executive director of the Manchester Historic Association.
Clayton said the exhibit is not just a celebration of the Queen City’s past either, but rather helps to also shed light on its current response to the opiate epidemic.
“Just as the community rises today to meet the challenge of the opiate epidemic, health care professionals have grappled with smallpox, the Spanish flu, cholera and a host of other scourges in the past,” he said. “It’s fascinating to follow the timeline.”
For NH Heritage Trail President and Executive Director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, Michael Culver, the exhibit at the Millyard Museum helps to highlight a broader narrative.
“The past is not just something that exists without connection to today,” he said. “it directly correlates with much of what we experience, see and feel as Americans in the 21st century…We are all excited about this exhibit and its potential to tap into people with a wide variety of different interests.”
The 17 museums on The Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, NH Historical Society, 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.
To learn more about the Millyard Museum, visit www.manchesterhistoric.org/millyard-museum.
Dedicated to preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers, Canterbury Shaker Village 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 said the addition adds “a new dimension to the collaborative group.”
“They are unique amongst all members on The Trail, which now number 17 strong,” he said. “Entering our 4th year as an organized entity, The Trail is poised for big things in 2017.”
Susan Bennett, executive director at Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH, said joining The Trail made sense in several ways.
“It’s a great way to give Canterbury Shaker Village greater visibility,” she noted. “At the same time, it allows us to work with other museum professionals in New Hampshire on matters of common concern and to learn from each other.”
Set on 700 acres and 29 buildings, Canterbury Shaker Village provides visitors with “a place for learning, reflection, and renewal of the human spirit.” Open from June through late October, Canterbury Shaker Village is open daily, May 6 – October 27 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. To learn more about Canterbury Shaker Village, www.shakers.org.
In commenting on The Trail, Culver added, “Where else can you see a 200 year-old Shaker village and museums that include everything from a US Navy submarine to fresh water boats, a 1914 castle, U.S. Constitution drafts, live animals, airplanes, WWII memorabilia and so much more?”
Museums on the Trail include the Aviation Museum, Albacore Park, American Independence Museum, Canterbury Shaker Village Castle in the Clouds, Lake Winnipesaukee Museum, Libby Museum, Millyard Museum, Museum of the White Mountains, New Hampshire Boat Museum, NH Historical Society, 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.
To learn more about any museum on The Trail, visit www.nhmuseumtrail.org.
Founded in 1823 with a mission to save, preserve, and share New Hampshire history, the New Hampshire Historical Society recently joined the NH Heritage Trail, which extends from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points north and west.
Heritage Museum Trail President and Executive Director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro, Michael Culver expressed enthusiasm at their newest member.
“The New Hampshire Historical Society has an incredible collection that helps tell New Hampshire’s history in many ways,” he said. “We are very pleased to welcome them to The Trail and look forward to the collaboration.”
The Society shares its collection of objects and archives through exhibitions, a research library, comprehensive website, various publications, and youth and adult educational programs. Current exhibitions include a Native American dugout canoe, Revolutionary War flags, White Mountain landscape art, portraits of New Hampshire residents, decorative arts, and the original 1818 eagle that once sat atop the state capitol.
According to Bill Dunlap, president of the Society, membership in The Trail makes sense.
“The Heritage Museum Trail provides a great way for visitors and residents alike to learn about and experience these wonderful venues—being part of the Heritage Museum Trail helps us share it even more widely,” he said.
In looking ahead to 2017, Culver said the addition of The Society helps underscore the diversity present on The Trail.
“From education programs and fun, family events to exhibits and so much more, The Trail offers an experience for all ages,” he said. “The Society opens up new markets for us and we hope we can do the same for them.”
The New Hampshire Historical Society is located at 30 Park Street in downtown Concord. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults and free for children under 18, active military personnel and their families, and members of the New Hampshire Historical Society. To learn more, visit www.nhhistory.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, New Hampshire Historical Society, Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, The Belknap Mill, Woodman Museum, and Wright Museum of WWII.
Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth
At each museum on the Experience New Hampshire Heritage Trail, which stretches from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several spots north, east and west, there is something to discover with more than 25,000 items collectively between them. At the Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth, the discovery is squarely focused on the unique history of Portsmouth.
Now through September 30, visitors will “discover” the work of artist Wendy Turner at the Island Light Exhibition, a 2-story exhibit that provides a 35 year retrospective of her work as well as current pieces.
Light, color and clarity are the focus of Turner’s hyperrealist watercolors, as she applies layer upon layer of delicate color washes to create images that are simultaneously subtle and dramatic. In the last decade Turner has primarily turned to painting in oil, which has resulted in a more expressive, direct style. Still focused on the edge of the ocean, her newer works balance her familiar realism with a love of abstract shapes and energetic brushstrokes.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to experience the work of a true master of her craft,” said Executive Director Kathleen Soldati.
At the John Paul Jones House (c.1758) through Columbus Day, visitors can enjoy the exhibit, The Odd and the Elegant, which features a variety of unusual items. Some of these items include extraordinary silver, fans, woodwork, and locally owned ceramics made in China, Europe, England, and North America. There are also a number of “curiosities,” such as an ostrich egg and a seventeenth-century Syrian tile that Soldati remarked “cause one to wonder at their connection to the history of Portsmouth.”
Upcoming exhibits include What Artists Look Like 2016, which opens on Friday, November 4. At this exhibit in which photographer Jay Goldsmith teams up with the Historical Society for the second year, portraits of selected artists will be on display at the Discover Portsmouth Gallery with one or two works of art accompanying each portrait.
For those who prefer to discover Portsmouth while in active motion, Portsmouth Historical Society’s popular historic walking tours leave at 10 am daily and at 5 pm on Fridays. Welcoming more than 30,000 visitors last year alone, Discover Portsmouth also serves as a resource for anyone visiting the area.
“One visitor recently mentioned that our 12-minute video on the history of Portsmouth provided a great overview of the city so we knew where to focus the rest of our time while in the area,” said Soldati. “We are devoted to helping visitors discover Portsmouth history, arts and culture.”
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.
New Hampshire Farm Museum
Mark Foynes, who has 20 years’ experience in management and development in both museums and community-based/educational non-profits, has been named executive director of the New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton.
Expressing enthusiasm at the opportunity “to fuse [his] deep-seated connection to museums with a broader understanding of non-profit management and development,” Foynes said the Farm Museum boasts many “compelling and vital stories.”
“It tells the story of how flinty and hardscrabble Yankees adapted to ever-changing circumstances from the Revolutionary era through the second half of the 20th century,” he noted.
“The house here at the Farm Museum, its connected outbuildings and great barn constitute 275 linear feet of rural history with thousands of objects that illustrate how our forebears navigated centuries of change.”
Foynes said he is also familiar with several museums on The Trail itself, including the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro.
“I served as executive director there in the wake of the museum’s founder’s passing, expanding membership base and annual giving,” he said.
For Foynes, the opportunity at the Farm Museum is to help visitors reconnect with our collective heritage and connection to the land, which is something he said has been obscured in recent years. “It is understandable and possibly even necessary as society moves forward, but the New Hampshire Farm Museum is a place where we keep traditions alive,” he said. “We embrace change as did New Hampshire farmers who constantly adapted to ever-evolving developments over the broad arc of several centuries.”
In looking ahead at the Farm Museum’s future, Foynes said he envisions telling “a unique story that connects today’s visitors with a past that binds us together through a narrative of work, determination, and perseverance.”
“Our ultimate endeavor is to connect the present generation with the stories of those who came and toiled before,” he added. “Ours is a story of the optimism that emerges out of the toil that’s borne out of challenge.”
To learn more about the New Hampshire farm Museum, visit www.farmmuseum.org. To learn more about The Trail or any museum on it, 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.
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.
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.
Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth
With a consistent emphasis on engaging visitors of all ages, several museums on the NH Heritage Trail are hosting family-oriented activities this upcoming weekend. At the Libby Museum in Wolfeboro on Sunday, July 24, its Family Day theme will be Karner Blue Butterfly where Fish and Game Karner Blue expert Rebecca Segelhurst will give a talk and guests can visit a large butterfly tent. In addition to free admission to the museum, visitors may also enjoy crafts, music and food. To learn more, visit www.thelibbymuseum.org.
On Friday in Laconia, the Belknap Mill will present the second installment of its Music on the River Concert Series in Rotary Riverside Park and Gazebo, which is located behind the Mill. The second concert is JD Ingalls Up from Florida. A native of Boston, Ingalls, who now lives in Naples, Florida, began playing music professionally at the age of 17 and is known for his acoustic rock and pop tunes with tropical soul. Visit www.belknapmill.org for more information.
In Portsmouth, the Portsmouth Historical Society @ Discover Portsmouth hosts several walking tours, including one that leaves daily at 10 am as well as 5 pm on Fridays. In this tour, visitors will take a 60-minute walk that covers the streets, stories, buildings and architecture of historic downtown. To learn more about this or other available tours, visit www.portsmouthhistory.org.
Other events on The Trail this weekend include Music on the Farm on Saturday at the New Hampshire Farm Museum where visitors can relax to old time music or try their hand at it. Visit www.farmmuseum.org for more information. For those who may want to leave the kids at home, the Woodman Museum in Dover will host a Centennial Celebration, which will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in addition to support long range organizational goals. Featuring a buffet dinner, cash bar, live and recorded music, speakers from the past and present, and tours of all four of its houses, the event takes place on Saturday, July 23. Visit www.woodmanmuseum.org for more information.
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.
Comprised of 15 museums that stretch from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points west and north, the NH Heritage Trail provides unique opportunities to experience NH history today. 
We take people from pre-colonial American right up through WWII in New Hampshire,” said Michael Culver, president of The Trail and executive director of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro. The Granite State is a pretty fascinating place. Many museums on The Trail offer hands-on activities, including the New Hampshire Boat Museum (NHBM) in Wolfeboro, which offers the opportunity for adults and families to build boats. From July 9 to July 17, adults can work individually or as a family team to build anything from a one-person canoe or kayak to a Paddleboard, Bevinâ’™s Skiff, or Opti Sailboat. From July 18 to July 22, kids can engage in fun projects in boating, science, water ecology, aquatic life, local history, and arts and crafts at NHBM’s Lake Discovery Camp for Kids where they can engage. Visit www.nhbm.org for more information. To the west at the Museum of the White Mountains in Plymouth, visitors can enjoy an information talk on July 20 entitled, “Lucy Crawford: A Living History Presentation. Lucy Crawford’s 1845 History of the White Mountains was the first book published about the White Mountains, as it chronicles her family’s 50-year effort to introduce the visiting public to the wonders and beauty of the White Mountains. At the event, living history portrayer Dijit Taylor will share Crawford’s stories of life in the mountains, punctuated by birth and death, love and betrayal, road and trail building and associated disasters. For more information, visit www.plymouth.edu/museum-of-the-white-mountains. The NH Heritage Trail has also evolved in recent years in its development of special events geared specifically for families. At the American Independence Museum, thousands of visitors are expected to attend its annual American Independence Festival on July 16. Featuring battle re-enactments, colonial demonstrations, live music and games for kids, the Festival celebrates America’s birth and NH’s role in it. Visit www.independencemuseum.org for more information. Other family-oriented events include Family Day at the Wright Museum where visitors can take rides in WWII vehicles and tours of the Wright Museum. Other activities include face painting, WWII re-enactors, Mo the Clown and his balloon artistry, a magic show; a caricaturist; two Squam Lake Nature Center programs with live animals; games, a 50/50 raffle, food vendors, and more. See www.wrightmuseum.org for details. Also located in Wolfeboro, the Libby Museum hosts its Family Day, “Karner Blue Butterfly,†on July 24. At this event, Fish and Game Karner 
Blue expert Rebecca Segelhurst will give a talk, while visitors may also enjoy crafts, a butterfly tent and free entrance to the museum. To learn more, visit www.thelibbymuseum.org. On July 16 at Londonderry’s Aviation Museum of NH, visitors can enjoy the 2nd annual Homebuilt Aircraft Fly-In. “This is a fun, family friendly event, and visitors will have the opportunity to see a variety of experimental aircraft flying in and on display,†said Executive Director Jessica Pappathan. “There will be activities and demonstrations for all ages, and food and ice cream available for purchase.†To learn more, visit www.aviationmuseumofnh.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.
At the Millyard Museum in Manchester, kids will travel back through time at an exciting Time Travelers Summer Camp from July 10 to July 14. Topics will include Native Americans, Archaeology, Inventions, and the Industrial Revolution.
e during the latter half of the 1700’s with costumed tour guides, summer camps and themed events.
