The Mount – Icon of Lake Winnipesaukee

The Mount Washington

The Mount – Icon of Lake Winnipesaukee

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For over 150 years, the Mount Washington has been cruising the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee, embodying the linked histories of lake transportation and tourism in the Lakes Region. Built by the Boston & Maine Railroad company, the SS Mt. Washington was launched in July 1872 to transport passengers and goods to key ports around the lake, as seen in early maps such as Calvert’s Map of the Lakes Region (1893). Tourism soon boomed at the Weirs transportation hub.

The Mount dominated lake transportation by the end of the 19th century, carrying more than 60,000 passengers annually. However, with the advent of automobile transportation and gradual decline of the railroad, the ship was sold in 1922 to Captain Leander Lavallee, who promoted area tourism with destinations around Lake Winnipesaukee. The original Mount burned at the Weirs landing in December 1939, where the fire also destroyed the wharf and railroad station.

Captain Lavallee then acquired the SS Chateaugay on Lake Champlain, and had that steamship cut into 20 sections and transported by train to Lakeport for reassembly. The new SS Mt. Washington II was launched in August 1940. The Mount has since undergone many changes, including lengthening and renaming as the MS Mount Washington. From a steam-powered sidewheeler to the 230-foot motorship today, the celebrated Mount endures as an icon of life on Lake Winnipesaukee.

New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail Celebrates “Remarkable Summer,” Looks Ahead

Military Gallery of the Wright Museum of WWII in Wolfeboro

As summer draws to a close, New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail President Jeff Barraclough called this summer “one of our strongest seasons yet,” marked by record visitor engagement and significant trail expansion.

“This summer has been remarkable,” said Barraclough. “We’ve seen tremendous growth in both local participation and out-of-state visitors discovering the incredible heritage stories our member museums tell. The enthusiasm has been infectious.”

The Trail’s popular Passport Program has been a particular success, attracting thousands of locals and tourists eager to discover museums they might not otherwise visit

Recent additions to the Trail, including the New England Ski Museum with locations in Franconia and North Conway, have expanded The Trail’s reach into New Hampshire’s rich snow sports heritage.

“Each new member institution brings unique stories and perspectives that strengthen our collective mission,” Barraclough explained. “The Ski Museum’s addition this summer has been especially exciting, connecting visitors to New Hampshire’s winter sports legacy while demonstrating how our smaller museums can pool resources for greater impact.”

Looking ahead to fall, Barraclough highlighted several initiatives designed to showcase New Hampshire’s diverse cultural landscape during the peak foliage season. “Fall is when New Hampshire truly shines, and our museums offer the perfect complement to the natural beauty visitors come to see,” he said. “We’re encouraging people to make their leaf-peeping trips more meaningful by discovering the human stories behind our landscapes.”

The Trail’s “25 Stories for 250 Years” initiative continues to unfold throughout the autumn months, offering visitors deeper connections to New Hampshire’s heritage as the state approaches its 250th anniversary.

“What excites me most is how our member museums are being recognized as significant cultural institutions that preserve and promote understanding of our national and state heritage,” Barraclough noted. “That recognition translates into increased support, better programming, and ultimately, more opportunities for people to connect with their history.”

The New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions across the state’s Lakes Region, White Mountain Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast. Member museums showcase diverse heritage from art and history to science and industry, offering unique stories and unforgettable experiences for all ages.

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A Most Extraordinary Man

A close-up of Peter Ayers’ House (# 48) in Henry Blinn’s 1848 map of the Village.

A Most Extraordinary Man

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In May of 1780, a young man named Peter Ayers met Shaker leader Ann Lee in the tiny community of Niskayuna, New York. Born in Voluntown, Connecticut in 1760, Ayers was 20 years old and a veteran of several Revolutionary War battles including Bunker Hill and Saratoga. After years of military service, Ayers was intrigued by the Shakers’ vision of a higher calling but was not ready to join the group.

In 1781, he returned to the army and served at the Battle of Yorktown. After three more visits with Shaker leadership, Ayers converted and became a missionary for the Society. In 1792, he accompanied his close friend Elder Job Bishop who was appointed to formally establish Canterbury Shaker Village. Over the next sixty-five years, Ayers proved to be an invaluable member of the community.

In August of 1840, former Governor of New Hampshire Isaac Hill published an account of the then eighty-year-old Ayers. Hill described him as “a most extraordinary man” with the energy of a person half of his age for whom “there was no scripture he could not quote in defense of his belief.”[1] Ayers died in 1857 at the age of 97.

[1] Isaac Hill, “The Shakers,” The Farmer’s Monthly Visitor 2, no. 8 (1840): 116. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/62626

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum Pow Wow Celebrates Community, Tradition, and Growth

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum’s 24th annual Pow Wow

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum’s 24th annual Pow Wow drew more than 2,000 guests and over 250 participants this year, making the event one of New England’s largest Indigenous celebrations.

“Pow Wows are Native gatherings to celebrate Indigenous communities,” said Executive Director Andrew Bullock. “These family-friendly events include traditional dance, music, arts, and storytelling. They’re a chance for participants to renew acquaintances, make new friendships, and share culture with the public.”

The 2025 Pow Wow opened with a Grand Entry, followed by Flag and Veterans Songs, and featured specialty dances such as the Jingle Dance, Fancy Dance, Traditional Dance, and Fancy Shawl Dance. The MC guided attendees through the significance of each song and protocol, while vendors displayed pottery, beadwork, basketry, books, and jewelry.

Bullock emphasized the event’s cultural importance. “Traditional skills aren’t taught formally. Rather, youth learn by participating, emulating elders, and listening to storytellers,” he explained. “Pow Wows enable Native people to educate the public, share their views on environmental issues, history, and spiritual practices, and continue vital oral traditions.”

This year’s event included the participation of the Native American Women Warriors Association, who assisted with flag raising and led a panel discussion on supporting Native women in service. “Military veterans are important within the Native community,” Bullock noted. “We were honored to welcome members of this organization and highlight their work.”

The annual Pow Wow has grown over the years, reflecting the museum’s evolving reach. “Our first few Pow Wows had just a handful of participants and about one hundred spectators,” Bullock said. “Now, our Pow Wows now attract 200 to 250 participants from throughout the northeast, and we attract thousands of visitors each year. We also have a very active group of more than 50 volunteers.”

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is open seven days a week through Saturday, November 1, with galleries featuring collections from across North America. This summer, visitors can explore the new exhibit, “The Sights and Sounds of Pow Wow,” which showcases contemporary Native regalia, drums, and music. Special events include live demonstrations and the Harvest Moon celebration on Sunday, September 28, featuring traditional foods, arts, and games.

“There are no Federal Indian reservations in the state,” Bullock said. “Without a land-base or state recognition, Pow Wows like ours provide a vital gathering space for Native people to dance, share ideas, and educate the public. We look forward to welcoming everyone to experience these traditions.”

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum is dedicated to connecting people of all backgrounds with Native American history, culture, and art in Warner, NH. For more information on upcoming events, visit indianmuseum.org.

Member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.

← Coming Together to Preserve Local History A Most Extraordinary Man →

Coming Together to Preserve Local History

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Sometimes it takes a community to decide that history is worth saving. In 1917, an iconic Georgian home at the corner of State and Middle Streets in Portsmouth—built in 1758 for merchant Gregory Purcell—was at risk of demolition. Believed to have hosted American naval hero John Paul Jones while his ships were under construction at the nearby naval yard, the house had long been part of the city’s historic fabric. Concerned citizens rallied to stop a local insurance company from destroying the house and building a brick office building on the property, thanks to a generous gift from a descendant of former owner Woodbury Langdon. That moment sparked the founding of the Portsmouth Historical Society, which opened the home as a museum in 1920. It is of historic note that there is no definitive evidence to support the claim that John Paul Jones stayed there. Today, the Portsmouth Historical Society continues that spirit of civic action by preserving local history, sharing stories through exhibitions, and engaging the community. None of it would be possible without the determination of those early citizens who believed Portsmouth’s past was worth protecting.