Aside from special programs, exhibits, virtual and in-person tours, the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail often features special events that provide visitors with unique experiences.
On Wednesday, August 25, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough will take people back 100 years to the 1920s for a night of Gatsby-era music, dancing and fun to support restoration of the historic Lucknow estate. In addition to live music, the event will feature a buffet dinner and a live auction, which includes eight unique Castle experiences.
“People often express that when they visit the Castle and grounds, they feel like they could live here,” said Executive Director Charles Clark. “Offering opportunities to experience more private moments at Castle in the Clouds gives auction winners a taste of what it was like living here and the lifestyle that Tom and Olive Plant enjoyed in the early-to-mid 1900s.”
To purchase tickets, or learn more about the auction (and experiences) or museum, click here.
On Saturday, September 11, Strawbery Banke will host its largest fundraiser, Vintage & Vine, returning for the 33rd year. Taking place outdoors throughout the Museum’s 10-acre site, heirloom gardens, and historic landscapes, the event features an extensive selection of fine wines and imaginative cuisine prepared by Greater Seacoast-area top chefs and caterers.
“Acknowledging that this year’s event falls on September 11 and the enormous challenges of the pandemic, we are offering First Responders who purchase tickets and attend this event a complimentary individual one-year membership,” said Robyn Aldo, Vintage & Vine Event Chair and Strawbery Banke Trustee. “Existing members will get a three month extension.”
Featuring a mini-wine auction and raffle, the event is also a kick-off for the Vintage & Vine Online Auction, which runs through October 10 and includes home goods, great escapes, beauty products, health and fitness packages, and more.
To purchase tickets, or to learn more, click here.
Formed in 2014 as a way to share resources and better promote their respective collections, programs and events, The NH Heritage Museum Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Region. Member institutions are located in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Loudon, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.
This summer on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, many museums feature live music.
At the Woodman Museum in Dover, their Summer Concert Series continues through the first week in August. On Sunday, July 25, Great Bay Sailor will perform an extensive repertoire of maritime, Irish/Scottish, British, and old-timey music. On Saturday, July 31, the series welcomes Reverend Todd Seely, whose musical talents draw from Americana, country, bluegrass, gospel, rock and roll, and punk rock. Comprised of key brass players from the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra, the Portsmouth Brass Quintet will perform on Saturday, August 7.
Reverend Todd Seely performs at the Woodman Museum
Part of their Concerts in the Clouds series, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough will host Classic Albums Live, who will perform The Eagles’ Hotel California, on Saturday, July 31. To learn more, click here.
Classic Albums Live to perform at Castle in the Clouds
Held from June 22 – September 14, Strawbery Banke’s Tuesdays on the Terrace will welcome the Chuck Walker Trio on Saturday, August 3. Blending a classic mix of jazz, blues, and soulful grooves, the Chuck Walker Trio celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt, Miles Davis, Antonio Carlos Jobim, John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and others.
To learn more about the series or Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, click here.
Formed in 2014, the NH Heritage Museum Trail features member institutions in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Loudon, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth, and Wolfeboro.
Last year, museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail were either closed or curtailed their operations due to the pandemic, which serves as stark contrast to the 2021 season. “It’s been an incredible start to the season for many of us on The Trail,” remarked President Jeff Barraclough, who also serves as executive director of new member Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden in Portsmouth.
Mike Culver, executive director of the Wright Museum in Wolfeboro, agreed and said the July 4th weekend broke records. On Friday, July 2, the museum had 290 visitors, followed by 458 on Saturday, July 3 with 624 on Sunday, July 4. “This kind of attendance is unforgettable,” he noted. “Docents remained organized, separating groups into manageable units that made visitors feel individually welcomed.”
A group of young visitors enjoy the Wright Museum of July 4th weekend
At the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum in Laconia, Director Cristina Ashjian said they are busy with visitors after a year’s hiatus. She noted how visitors will be able to enjoy a special installation of paintings of the Big Lake and its environs this season. The exhibition, Smile of the Great Spirit, includes views of Winnipesaukee from Red Hill, Center Harbor, and Meredith as well as sites such as Endicott Rock at The Weirs.
In August, the Lake Winnipesaukee Museum will restart the popular ‘Winnipesaukee Wednesdays’ lecture series. Events in the series include Michael Bruno (‘Cruising NH History’ on August 4), Ron Guilmette (‘Islands of Winnipesaukee and Squam’ on August 11), and Hans Hug (‘Wrecks of Winnipesaukee’ on August 18). To learn more, click here.
Artist Hugo Possner (1859-1933) painted this ‘View of Endicott Rock and Lake Winnipesaukee’ from a popular postcard available c. 1900
At The Wright, Curator Justin Gamache expressed enthusiasm for Shaped by Conflict: Mementoes of the WWII Era, which opens August 17. Made possible by Taylor Community and The Weirs Times with additional support by John and Evelyn Frank, the exhibit gives visitors an in-depth look at common mementos and personal items of the WWII era. “The exhibit features handmade trench art, postcards, sweetheart pillows, and much more,” he said. “The exhibit is a terrific illustration of how Americans sought to commemorate a critical moment in our nation’s history.”
Formed in 2014 as a way to share resources and better promote their respective collections, programs and events, The NH Heritage Museum Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Region. Member institutions are located in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Loudon, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.
Previously the Director of Operations at the Millyard Museum in Manchester, Jeff Barraclough is now Executive Director of Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden in Portsmouth. “The Moffatt-Ladd House is a beautiful site with a lot of history, and I am thrilled to be here,” said Barraclough, who will remain president of the NH Heritage Museum Trail. Formed in 2014 as a way to share resources and better promote their respective collections, programs and events, The Trail features 21 museums, which recently welcomed the Moffatt-Ladd House as its newest member.
“The Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden is excited to be the newest member of the NH Heritage Museum Trail,” Barraclough said. “We look forward to partnering and collaborating with this great group of museums and historic sites across the state.”
Regarding what attracted him to the Moffatt-Ladd House, Barraclough cited it as “an important historic site and one of America’s finest Georgian urban merchant estates.” “The house was built in 1763 and was the home of William Whipple, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who lived here throughout the Revolution,” he explained. “The estate also includes extensive historic gardens and a horse chestnut tree planted in 1776 by Whipple after returning from Philadelphia.”
To learn more about the Moffat-Ladd House, click here.
This summer, residents and tourists have the unique opportunity to explore all 18 museums on the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail at a fraction of the standard cost through its recently launched Passport Program. Sold for $25 at all participating museums, passports (valued at $150) will provide people with admission to all 18 participating member institutions.
The program is made possible by Bank of New Hampshire. “We are proud to support the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail and their mission to connect the public with culturally rich heritage institutions across the state,” noted Tiffany Baert, Vice President – Marketing Officer. “We recognize the importance of their efforts, applaud their hard work, and are proud to stand with them in support of our community.”
According to Trail President Jeff Barraclough, the hope is that the Passport Program will not only enhance people’s experience of The Trail, but give member institutions “a much needed boost.” “In total, we see on average more than 200,000 visitors every year,” he said. “Last year, of course, the pandemic significantly affected our operations, so it’s important we get our museums on people’s radars again. This Passport program will do just that.”
Available for purchase at each museum*, the Passport can be used for an entire year from the date of purchase. It includes brief summaries of the museums and is organized by location and category that can be stamped upon entry.
Formed in 2014 as a way to share resources and better promote their respective collections, programs and events, The NH Heritage Museum Trail is divided into the Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Lakes Region. Member institutions are located in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Loudon, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.
*Note:
Museums participating in the Passport Program are: Albacore Park (Portsmouth), American Independence Museum (Exeter), Aviation Museum of NH (Manchester), Canterbury Shaker Village, Castle in the Clouds (Moultonborough), Currier Museum of Art (Manchester), Lake Winnipesaukee Museum (Laconia), Lee Scouting Museum (Manchester), Libby Museum (Wolfeboro), Millyard Museum (Manchester), Museum of the White Mountains (Plymouth), NH Boat Museum (Wolfeboro), NH Historical Society (Concord), Portsmouth Historical Society, Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm (Tamworth), Strawbery Banke (Portsmouth), Woodman Museum (Dover), and the Wright Museum of World War II (Wolfeboro).
The Belknap Mill, Northeast Motor Sports Museum, and Moffatt-Ladd House are not currently part of the Passport program, but we anticipate their participation in 2022.
