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Popular Festival goes Virtual on NH Heritage Museum Trail

From now through July 16, the American Independence Museum is hosting its annual American Independence Festival, presented by Newburyport Bank, with several virtual twists. “Due to COVID-19, we needed to re-imagine the Festival, which historically attracts thousands of visitors to downtown Exeter,” said Emma Stratton, executive director of the American Independence Museum, a founding Trail member.

Noting this year’s re-imagined Festival features more than ten different events and/or programs, Stratton said one virtual highlight includes a virtual Presentation on July 11. “We will have our traditional opening salute and the premiere of a video on the history of the Festival,” she said. “We will also have a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Greg  Gilman, a direct descendant of the man who read it to the town of Exeter in 1776.”

Another virtual highlight includes a community-wide reading of the Declaration of Independence that will air on July 16, the day the Declaration of Independence arrived in Exeter. Other events include three lectures, town-wide scavenger hunt and more. “We are excited at the chance to welcome visitors from far and wide this year through a virtual platform,” added Stratton.

According to Jeff Barraclough, president of The Trail and director of operations at the Millyard Museum in Manchester, the American Independence Museum’s foray into the digital realm demonstrates capacity by many member institutions. “As a result of the pandemic, museums across the region have had to find new ways to reach their audiences, whether through virtual tours, social media, or developing online educational resources,” he said. “Although I know people will miss being at various events in person this year, many of our museums can reach people across the country now.”

Formed in 2014 as a way to share resources and better promote their respective collections, programs and events, The Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Regions. Member institutions are located in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.

For more information about the American Independence Festival, visit independencemuseum.org.

Music and ‘Ghosts’ Highlight Busy October on NH Heritage Museum Trail

With 17 museums from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points north and west, the NH Heritage Museum Trail features two unique events on Saturday, October 26.

Canterbury Shaker Village
At Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury from 3pm to 8pm, guests will be treated to traditional music performed by a variety of artists and groups and food from local Canterbury food and drink vendors. Musicians expected to perform include High Range Band, Liz Faiella with Lindsay Straw, The Wholly Rollers, Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki Trio, Jim Prendergast with Hanz Araki and others. Food and drink vendors will include a seasonal selection from the Village’s own Creamery Café and Canterbury Aleworks.

“It is a wonderful outdoor event, marked by beautiful fall foliage and perfect for the entire family,” said Maggie Stier, interim executive director.

The Canterbury Shakers composed over 10,000 pieces of music at the Village and there will be special programming throughout the evening highlighting some of their work as well as a program showcasing the newly restored 1887 Hook & Hastings pipe organ in the Chapel of the Dwelling House.

Canterbury Shaker Village is a non-profit museum and historic site located 12 miles north of Concord, NH. It features 25 historic buildings, 700 conserved acres of fields, orchards, and gardens, and offers easy walking trails that encircle several ponds on the property. For more information about this event and to purchase tickets, visit shakers.org.

American Independence Museum
In Exeter, the American Independence Museum (AIM) will host Ghosts of Folsom Tavern and Winter Street Cemetery Tour beginning at 3 pm with cemetery tours every half hour from 4-5:30pm. At this family-friendly event, Colonel and Mrs. Folsom invite guests to join them in their historic tavern to celebrate the waning light and autumn season.

“You will meet the Folsom family, tour their historic tavern and hear how they once hosted George Washington while enjoying seasonal refreshments,” said museum Executive Director Emma Stratton.

Afterwards, guests will make their way to Winter Street Cemetery to meet their colonial tour guide and see the Folsoms’ final resting place and gravesites of many of Exeter’s (in)famous and revolutionary residents.

Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, AIM welcomes more than 5,000 visitors annually and distinguishes itself with educational school programs and events that make history fun and relevant. To learn more about the event, or to purchase tickets (which include tours), visit independencemuseum.org.

About The Trail
Comprised of 17 museums, the NH Heritage Museum Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Regions with stops in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth, and Wolfeboro.

Upcoming events on NH Heritage Museum Trail

In the Seacoast Region of the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visitors and locals alike will be treated to two unique family friendly events.

On Sunday, September 8 from noon to 4 pm, Woodman Museum in Dover will host its 23rd Annual Car Show. The event will will feature beer and food by Bad Lab Beer Co. in addition to pre-WWII motorcars, antique and classic cars, trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles.

“This event is a hit every year,” said museum Executive Director David Tompkins. “It’s a great way to enjoy the museum and community.”

Community will also be the focus at nearby American Independence Museum’s Beer for History, sponsored by Donahue Tucker & Ciandella. Featuring beer, food by Sea Dog Brewing (also a featured brewer), colonial inspired music, games and more, the series takes place in the museum’s Folsom Tavern, built in 1775.

“George Washington had a beer here, so you should, too,” said museum Executive Director Emma Bray.

Beginning on Thursday, September 26, Beer for History kicks off with von Trapp Brewing, known for brewing Euoropean-styled lagers.

Other featured breweries in the series include Throwback Brewery, Sea Dog Brewing, Tilton Brothers Brewing, and Bad Lab Beer Co.

“Both events highlight the diversity of programs and events on The Trail,” said Jeff Barraclough, director of operations of Millyard Museum, one of several institutions that founded it. “It’s been a great 2019 and we look forward to a strong fall.”

The NH Heritage Museum Trail is made up of 17 museums with stops in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Portsmouth, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.

For more information about these and any other events on The Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.

Busy August for NH Heritage Museum Trail

Featuring 17 member institutions from Portsmouth to Plymouth and several points west and north, the NH Heritage Museum Trail features numerous events for all ages in early August.

On Saturday, August 3 in Exeter, American Independence Museum will express its appreciation for residents in SAU 16 with Free Admission Day. Sponsored by Kennebunk Savings, the day will provide free admission to residents who live in the towns of Exeter, Brentwood, Kingston, Newfields, and Stratham as well as town employees, including teachers, with valid ID.

“We are so grateful for the support of Kennebunk Savings,” said Museum Executive Director Emma Bray. “This is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to visit us and see all the new enhancements in our museum.”

For individuals who may live closer to the state’s center, Saturday August 3 features Changemakers, a dance performance that concludes Arts Week at Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury. Arts Week is a two-week long event that engages visitors of all ages in the creative process.

“We will have dance, art, sculpture, even a performance by aerialists,” noted Maggie Stier of Canterbury Shaker Village, “and children get free admission from 10 – 4 on August 3rd for Shaker Saturday activities.”

A dance collaboration between Ballet Misha and Nsquared, Changemakers takes place at Canterbury Shaker Village’s Education Center at 5:30 p.m. Advance ticket purchases are strongly recommended.

On Wednesday, August 7, The Libby Museum in Wolfeboro will hold its final Live Animal Show.

According to Executive Director Alana Albee, Live Animal Shows are one of the “most popular” events at the museum.”

“It’s a chance to learn and get up close to exotic and local animals,” she said. “Our first event this summer included a 6 foot Australian Python, an African Frog and a distant relative to the raccoon, a Guatamuny.”

Held in partnership with Wildlife Encounters, the free event begins at 2 p.m.

For more information about these events or the many others on the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visit the website.

Comprised of 17 museums, the NH Heritage Museum Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Regions with stops in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth, and Wolfeboro.

Families have their day on the NH Heritage Trail this weekend

DPC photo (1)

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.