1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

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 on a flight simulator

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.