On the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail this fall, several museums feature lecture series.
At the Woodman Museum in Dover, their Fall Speaker Series kicks off on Wednesday, October 6 at 7 p.m. with New Hampshire author Olga Morrill. She is currently working on the third book of an historical fiction series called The Vagabond Trilogy, which includes real people and events from the Piscataqua Region in the 1600’s. In addition to Morrill’s presentation, the event will include an open discussion about colonial Dover in the early 17th century.
For tickets, or to learn more, visit woodmanmuseum.org.
Part of their Virtual Lecture Series, the New Hampshire Boat Museum (NHBM) in Wolfeboro will feature Daniel Boyne, author of The Red Rose Crew: A True Story of Women, Winning and the Water on Thursday, October 14 at 7 p.m. In his lecture, Boyne will discuss highlights from his book, which tells the story of a group of women who rowed their way to a silver medal at the 1975 World Championships in Nottingham, England.
“Their accomplishment helped to grow and change the sport for women,” said NHBM Executive Director Martha Cummings, who noted their Virtual Lecture series is free. “We are so appreciative of New Hampshire Humanities for its support of this and all our lectures, which reflect our continued focus on highlighting diversity in the sport of rowing this year,” she added.
To learn more about NHBM’s Virtual Lecture Series, visit nhbm.org.
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.
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.
For many museums on the NH Heritage Museum Trail in the Seacoast Region, July marks the beginning of an eagerly anticipated 2020 season.
Portsmouth Historical Society
On July 10, Portsmouth Historical Society (PHS) will reopen its Welcome Center and Gift Shop and feature two new walking tours (groups of 6 or less).
Offered every Sat at 3:30 through July, “The Portsmouth Path of President Washington” will be led by walking tour guide Jeff Thomson. One of the stops along the way is the Tobias Lear House. “Tobias Lear was President Washington’s personal secretary,” said PHS’s Robin Lurie-Meyerkopf. “Since many folks may not know that George Washington spent time on the Seacoast in 1789, we thought this would be an interesting addition to our walking tour line up.”
Offered every Sunday at 3:30 through July, “Gay” Old Times: Stories of Portsmouth’s LGBTQ Community will explore the hidden history of LGBT clubs, organizations, and people that impacted the NH Seacoast.
In Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke Museum reopens July 1 with “Emerging Renewed — An Interpretive Tour of the Historic Waterfront Neighborhood of Strawbery Banke.”
Featuring daily tours beginning on the hour and half-hour through October 31, the re-imagined experience will take visitors through four outdoor sites that explore the resiliency of the historic waterfront neighborhood over time. In the program, small group tours (10 individuals or fewer) will meet costumed role-players, discover architectural and landscape details and learn about the history of the site from the 1600s through efforts in 1958 that created the museum.
In Dover, the Woodman Museum also opens on July 1 with five available reserved tours daily from 10am to 3pm, Wednesday to Sunday for groups of 10 or fewer.
One highlight in 2020, according to Executive Director Dave Tompkins, is a season long exhibition that celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Woman’s Suffrage Movement. “It explores the role of NH Suffragette Marilla Ricker, local Dover and other women from around the state who contributed to the 19th Amendment, which allowed women the right to vote,” he said.
The Woodman, founded in 1916, is a traditional early 20th-century style natural science, history, and art museum with exhibits for all ages. To learn more, or check for hours (The Woodman is closed July 4 and 5), visit woodmanmuseum.org.
About The Trail
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. 18 member institutions are located in Canterbury, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Laconia, Manchester, Moultonborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Tamworth and Wolfeboro.
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.
