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.

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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.

Passport Program Offers Residents and Tourists a Gateway to New Hampshire’s Museums

The entrance at New Hampshire Boat Museum in Moultonborough

A single ticket is opening doors to New Hampshire’s history, art, and culture, as the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail’s Passport Program provides residents and visitors with access to nearly two-dozen museums.

According to Jeff Baraclough, Trail President, the Passport attracts thousands of locals and tourists eager “to discover museums they might not otherwise visit.” “It encourages people to experience the full range of what New Hampshire’s museums have to offer,” he explained. “From small local collections to major cultural institutions we have a rich and diverse array of institutions on The Trail.”

Available for $30 at participating museums across the state, the Passport grants free admission to each of the 22 Trail institutions throughout the year. The program is designed to encourage exploration, with each passport including summaries of the museums and a spot for a commemorative stamp at every stop.

“The Trail passport is like a gateway,” said Jenn Walton, Assistant Director of Education and Public Programs at the New Hampshire Historical Society. “There are so many different types of organizations represented—history, art, architecture, sports—there is something for everyone.”

Devon Kurtz, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Boat Museum, said the Passport connects the state’s unique history and culture. “The museums on the Trail not only complement each other, they build off each other and tell a more complete story,” he added.

Click here for more information about the Passport Program and participating museums.

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

New England Ski Museum Joins New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail

The New England Ski Museum in Franconia Notch State Park

The New England Ski Museum, with locations in Franconia and North Conway, has joined the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, expanding the Trail’s reach into the state’s rich history of snow sports.

Founded in 1977 in Franconia and expanded to North Conway in 2018, the Ski Museum documents the history of skiing and snowboarding in New England and beyond. Highlighting both permanent and rotating content, exhibits range from Olympic memorabilia to design elements in ski culture.

Executive Director Andrea Masters, who stepped into the role in 2024, said the Ski Museum is enthusiastic about joining the Trail. “We’re very excited,” she said. “This is why we all live and work in New Hampshire—we like rural life and smaller communities.”

Noting that the majority of museums on the Trail are “smaller,” she said their membership is “a chance to stick together.” “We can pool our resources—intellectual and financial—for joint outreach,” she added.

Regarding what people can expect at the Ski Museum, Masters cited new exhibits, one of which just opened in Franconia that focuses on the rapid growth of ski resorts in the 1950s and ’60s. A corresponding exhibit in North Conway—opening in July—will feature the evolution of ski area logos.

“We also have a current exhibit in North Conway on Slim Aarons, who was a very famous photographer in Hollywood,” she explained. “He also did photography ski photos and winter shots, so we are exhibiting those at the moment.”

In looking to the future, Masters expressed enthusiasm, citing a new website in development and a long-term goal to digitize their collection. Featuring more than 3,000 books, 3,468 reels of ski film, thousands of photographs and posters, and historic scrapbooks, the collection also includes personal memorabilia from the 1936 U.S. women’s Olympic ski team.

“We want to make our collection accessible to people everywhere,” she added. “It’s a multi-million-dollar project, but we believe it’s worth it.”

To learn more about the Ski Museum, visit skimuseum.org.

Member institutions on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, White Mountain Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast.