On Friday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m., Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough will host Wild West Gala in the Clouds, a fundraiser that underscores the importance of historic preservation in New Hampshire.
“Historic preservation is one of our primary objectives—we are stewards of history,” said Charles Clark, executive director of Castle in the Clouds, who said Gala proceeds will support a new restoration project at historic Lucknow Estate.
As for the nature of the project, Clark said it will remain a secret until the night of the event. “We are announcing it at the Gala so we don’t want to spoil the surprise,” he added.
Ladd-Gilman House (1721)
At the American Independence Museum (AIM) in Exeter, Executive Director Jennifer Carr said their proverbial “secret” is out. Built in 1721, AIM’s Ladd-Gilman House has been the focus of ongoing restoration efforts for more than 5 years.
“It’s a process that involves painstaking research, professional assessments, and significant financial support,” said Carr. “Currently, we are looking to conduct an historic building assessment of the Ladd-Gilman House before proceeding with further restoration projects.”
One future project at AIM that is already known, however, is a new heating system at the Ladd-Gilman House. “Controlling the internal climate within the museum is essential both for the building’s structural integrity and the care and preservation of our artifacts,” added Carr.
According to Jeff Barraclough, president of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail and executive director of member institution Millyard Museum in Manchester, historic preservation may be defined in many ways.
“As museums, our role is to not just interpret, but reinterpret, history through the critical lens of what is taking place today,” he said. “We are storytellers, too, which falls under the purview of historic preservation and the unique heritage of our state.”
To learn more about Castle in the Clouds or purchase tickets to Wild West Gala in the Clouds, visit castleintheclouds.org. To learn more about AIM or Ladd-Gilman House, visit independencemuseum.org.