From left to right: Jeff Barraclough, Millyard Museum; Charles Clark, Castle in the Clouds; Jonathan Nichols, Woodman Museum; Jenn Walton, NH Historical Society; Jeff Rapsis, Aviation Museum
Learning from – and with – one another is a key objective for members on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail.
“The Trail creates opportunities year-round for our members to learn from each other and share best practices that ultimately help us all better serve our communities,” said Jeff Barraclough, President of The Trail.
This collaborative approach was demonstrated at the recent New England Museum Association (NEMA) Conference with the theme, “Wellness Check: A Holistic View of Museums in the First Quarter Century.” The annual conference took place in Manchester, the first time in many years that it was held in New Hampshire. Hundreds of museum professionals from across New England attended where members highlighted their work and gained insights from colleagues in the museum field.
“The Trail ran a session, along with Manchester Museums, on forming museum partnerships,” noted Barraclough. “It was well-attended and gave us an opportunity to talk about the successes of the Trail, such as the Passport and 25 Stories project. Hopefully, it will inspire other museums in New England to form partnerships with each other.”
Multiple Trail institutions participated as hosts, including the Millyard Museum, Aviation Museum, and Castle in the Clouds.
For Jenn Walton of the New Hampshire Historical Society, the conference reinforced how museums can strengthen their community connections. “I learned about all sorts of partnerships—with schools, other museums, community non-profits, social service providers,” she said. “Strong partnerships enable museums to build bridges, increase community engagement, and provide a source of meaningful connection, inspiration, and empathy.”
According to Barraclough, “strong partnerships” exist at the heart of The Trail. “We have a responsibility to not just care for artifacts but tell New Hampshire-based stories that educate and inspire residents and visitors alike,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, The Trail plans to expand these collaborative learning opportunities through additional joint programming and shared professional development initiatives that will further strengthen member institutions’ capacity to serve their communities.
Member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, White Mountains, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.