by jen | Sep 8, 2016 | Uncategorized
Open for 6 years, The Fabulous Find in Kittery has given away more than $870,000 to local nonprofits, which continues to delight new recipients, including the American Independence Museum in Exeter.
“We were elated to hear of our selection,” said Museum Executive Director Julie Williams. “It is amazing what they have been able to do for the greater Seacoast community.”
The Fabulous Find is a boutique style resale shop that partners with different local non-profit organizations monthly. In addition to the American Independence Museum, the Children’s Museum of NH and Seacoast Family Promises will also share profits from September sales at the shop. On September 10 at 8:30 am, The Fabulous Find will host a coffee reception to disburse monies to August beneficiaries as well as introduce September’s agencies.
Comprising the Ladd-Gilman House (c.1721) and Folsom Tavern (c.1775) on more than one acre of landscaped property, the Museum hosts public and educational programs and lectures, colonial artisan demonstrations, guided tours, and special events. The Museum is also part of the “Experience New Hampshire Heritage: The Portsmouth to Plymouth Museum Trail.”
To learn more about The Fabulous Find, visit www.thefabulousfind.org.
by jen | Sep 7, 2016 | Uncategorized
Funded in part by a grant from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the American Independence Museum’s ‘Traveling Trunk’ program will launch this fall.
According to Education Manager Abigail Pietrantonio. The program will provide “a museum-quality, educationally relevant experience for students directly in the classroom.”
“It’s a chance for us to reach significantly more children across the state and promote awareness about our collection,” she said. “We are also very excited at possibly teaching in the classroom, too.”
Loaded with replica period clothing, toys, historical artifacts, games and more, each of the Museum’s two trunks will feature more than 70 items. The purpose of the program is to help children better understand those who fought in the Revolutionary War as well as the everyday lives of people during that time in general, including Native Americans.
“The program also features a streamlined curriculum that complements the lesson plans of teachers,” added Pietrantonio.
To learn more about the program or the Museum’s many educational offerings for school children, contact Pietrantonio at [email protected] or visit www.independencemuseum.org.
by jen | Sep 1, 2016 | Uncategorized
On Friday, September 16, the American Independence Museum will celebrate Constitution and Citizenship Day with a lunch lecture at 12 pm at Folsom Tavern. Entitled “Ratification of the Constitution in New Hampshire, the lecture will explore why New Hampshire almost voted against the proposed Federal Constitution. Professor Emeritus of History at Dartmouth College, Jere R. Daniell will present the lecture.
For Education Manager Abigail Pietrantonio, the entire day highlights the importance of civic engagement. “It’s important to understand what it took to draft the Constitution and what it means for our nation today,” she said. “This lecture should be very interesting, because not everyone knows just how close the Granite State was to not supporting the newly formed nation.”
Aimée Sundstrom, marketing manager at Service Credit Union, which is a major Museum sponsor, said she believes it is important people understand the meaning of citizenship.
“We appreciate the role the Museum continues to play in educating the public, especially on such an important day,” she said. “We are very excited about this Lunch and Learn lecture.”
Scheduled to take place at 12 pm at the Museum’s Folsom Tavern, 164 Water Street in Exeter, the Lecture is made possible by generous support from the New Hampshire Humanities Council. Pre-registration is required for this free lecture and people are encouraged to bring their lunches. Please contact Abby Pietrantonio at [email protected].
by jen | Aug 25, 2016 | Uncategorized
Featuring more than 2,000 items in its collection, the need to preserve them is critical, which makes the American Independence Museum’s recent $5,000 grant award so important. Granted by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), the award will enable the Museum to restore, digitize and safely house 4 rare historical artifacts as well as purchase materials required for new archival storage methods for hundreds of other items in the collection.
Museum Executive Director Julie Williams referred to the grant award as “an important piece to a long-term preservation plan.”
“With an eye toward future sustainability both in terms of our collection and the Museum itself, we need to take steps to ensure our artifacts may be enjoyed for future generations,” she said. “This grant award helps protect 4 key items in our collection and lay the groundwork for future projects—I cannot thank the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution enough.”
Susan O’Leary, immediate past regent for the Exeter DAR Chapter and current ambassador at the Museum, said she was honored to sponsor the Special Grants Application.
“Chapter recognition of the importance of the Museum’s two anchor properties, the Folsom Tavern and the Ladd-Gilman House, dates back to 1901 when our young chapter presented slate tablets to both to honor their significance to local and state history,” she said. “This grant will help assure that the Museum will educate and serve the region into the future.”
The 4 items that will be preserved include: A letter handwritten and signed by George Washington in Mount Vernon to General Henry Knox in New York; handwritten letter from George Washington to General John Sullivan; “A Compendium of Military Duty, adapted for the Militia of the United States” by Jonathan Rawson, Esq., late aid de camp to General Sullivan; and an engraved book plate that belonged to George Washington.
“These items are among some of the most significant in our collection,” added Williams. “They are delicate and require expert handling by outside consultants—it will be very exciting to see these items in all their restored glory.”
Founded in 1991 with the strength and guidance of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of New Hampshire, the Exeter Community and the State of New Hampshire, the American Independence Museum is a place where all can learn and celebrate what it took to create the freedoms that Americans enjoy hundreds of years later.
Learn more about the American Independence Museum at www.independencemuseum.org.
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by jen | Aug 16, 2016 | Uncategorized
Having previously supported as well as worked with the American Independence Museum on previous projects through the years, Service Credit Union has invested $2,500 to support the American Independence Museum.
According to Marketing Manager Aimée Sundstrom, the investment reflects something fundamental that is shared by both organizations.
“A member of the local community since 1957, Service Credit Union is a part of Seacoast history,” she said. “We support the American Independence Museum, because it brings the very beginning of this region’s history to life in a very unique way.”
Noting they also “greatly appreciate” the Museum’s concern for veterans/active military and their families by providing them with free admission, Sundstrom said Service Credit Union is particularly in support children’s education programs at the Museum.
“If we can help educate kids on the importance of American history right from its very beginnings, I believe we can make a profound difference on their understanding of civic engagement and social responsibility.”
She said it is this idea of social responsibility that drives Service Credit Union’s philosophy of community engagement.
“Our first commandment is to ‘serve those who serve,’” she said. “In recent years, we have expanded this notion to include a very systematic approach to corporate giving to area nonprofits to make a bigger impact.”
For Museum Executive Director Julie Williams, this impact has been felt across the agency.
“As a nonprofit, we have razor thin margins and rely on building partnerships with organizations whose charitable interests align with our mission,” she said. “Service Credit Union has been a terrific partner in the past, and so to join us at this level of investment is really profound and quite meaningful.”
Serving more than 1600 children from schools throughout New Hampshire, the American Independence Museum works directly with educators to offer specific programs that complement the classroom experience. “We bring in experienced colonial re-enactors as well as others who can demonstrate colonial trades—we want to create memorable experiences for all our visitors,” Williams added.
Founded in 1991, the American Independence Museum is a place where visitors can learn and celebrate what it took to create the freedoms Americans continue to enjoy today. The Museum is also part of the NH Heritage Trail. To learn more about The Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.
