by jen | Jun 11, 2021 | Events, Family Friendly, For Kids, Human Interest, Lectures
On Saturday, June 26 the American Independence Museum will host an outdoor community event, Our Waterways, exploring the waterways that have drawn people to the Exeter area for thousands of years.
Through presentations and hands-on activities, attendees will discover how different uses such as fishing, water power, and transportation transcend cultures and have different impacts on the waterways.
“Visitors will recreate rivers and dams to see how obstructing the river not only creates falls, but limits fish migration,” said Sarah Jaworski, American Independence Museum Program Manager. Make and take craft kits will also be provided.
The program runs from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m on the lawn at Folsom Tavern. Formal family-friendly presentations will occur at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. From 10:30 to 11:15 a.m., Denise and Paul Pouliot of the Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective will share the importance of waterways in the daily life of the Pennacook-Abenaki People.
This will be followed from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. by a presentation by the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum.
“Waterways are an interwoven link to the history, art and traditions of Native people, past and present. This brief discussion will share some insights into canoes and wampum beads, as they relate to Native people and the Waterways of the Northeast,” said Andrew Bullock, Executive Director of Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum.
The entire program takes place outside on the grounds of the American Independence Museum. The cost is $10 a family (up to four individuals) and $5 for an individual. Members attend free.
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.
by jen | May 11, 2021 | Events, For Adults, Free, Lectures
On Thursday, May 20, the American Independence Museum will host a virtual screening of the film Uprooted: Heartache and Hope in New Hampshire from 6 to 7 p.m.
Uprooted is a 30-minute documentary based on interviews collected during New Hampshire Humanities’ Fences & Neighbors initiative on immigration.
Telling the story of five refugees who resettled in New Hampshire after leaving war-torn countries, the film examines what it means to be a refugee and how these five individuals made new lives for themselves in a strange place, separated from their families and often without communities, English language skills, or jobs.
These stories of the challenges faced by newcomers to New Hampshire echo the stories of those who crossed the Atlantic seeking new lives during the colonial period: religious persecution, personal freedoms, government oppression, and the promise of opportunity.
“We hope to engage our Museum communities in discussions of belonging and citizenship. Uprooted highlights immigrant experiences and asks us to critically think about and understand the American struggle for freedom,” said Program Assistant, Emma Scheinmann.
The screening, which will take place on Zoom, will include a post-film discussion led by Dr. Sara Withers, the project director and a Senior Lecturer at University of New Hampshire. Dr. Withers is a Cultural Anthropologist studying the lives and experiences of refugees in the Granite State.
This event is sponsored by New Hampshire Humanities’s Humanities to Go Program, which offers over 500 high-quality cultural programs that are free and open to the public.
Registration is required for this free program, which takes place on Thursday, May 20 from 6 to 7 p.m.
To register for this virtual tavern talk, visit independencemuseum.org.
Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, the museum is currently developing a variety of public and education programs in digital formats to encourage digital inclusion for all ages.
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.
by jen | Apr 20, 2021 | Events, Programming, Tours
April 19th, also known as Patriot’s Day, commemorates the encounters at Lexington and Concord that traditionally mark the start of the American Revolution. Almost 250 years later, Patriot’s Day is the driving force behind the American Independence Museum’s first annual membership drive. Staff hope the date will serve as a reminder to current and future members to prepare for the upcoming season and support the museum.
“Shifting all membership renewals and sign-ups to one date will make it easier for visitors to keep track of their renewal cycle,” said Emma Stratton, executive director.
This April date will ensure that memberships are valid for the entire 2021 season which runs from May-November. Current plans for the 2021 season include new digital programs, a modified American Independence Festival in July, Folsom Tavern tours beginning May 15, and events to celebrate the 300th anniversary of Ladd- Gilman House and the 30th anniversary of the American Independence Museum.
A new membership level for individuals will also be introduced. This new level will provide the holder with free admission to tours and the Independence Festival. Students and educators will get a bonus of access to new educational digital resources and programs.
“With all the new content we’ve been creating in the digital realm the museum wanted to continue creating these resources for educators. I hope that this special access will continue to provide classroom resources,” said Sabina Ion, Content and Marketing Manager.
For those looking to support the museum at a higher level or wishing to receive member benefits for more people, the museum also offers Dual, Family, and Advocate membership levels.
To join or to renew memberships, https://www.independencemuseum.org/AIMstaging/membership
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.
by emma | Oct 16, 2019 | Events
On Wednesday, October 23 at the first of two workshops in the American Independence Museum’s Huzzah Family Workshop Series, presented by Harman Law Offices, participants will create an historically accurate colonial salad.
In addition to making a salad, participants will also learn about urban foraging today from Leslie Stevens, a UNHCE Master Gardener, Natural Resources Steward, and owner of Sturgeon Creek Farm in Eliot, Maine. Currently on the boards of Seacoast Permaculture and Seacoast Eat Local, Stevens has taught children and their families to grow food for more than 10 years.
“This is a chance to discover how America’s early colonists used a variety of grown and harvested greens, including herbs and flowers, to create delicious salads,” said museum Executive Director Emma Stratton. “We feel this will be very popular with people of all ages.”
Advanced registration is encouraged, while participants may also elect to upgrade and pre-buy dinner prepared by Laney & Lu, or bring their own picnic to enjoy.
“This workshop is all about local food, so we are so thankful to have Laney & Lu join us,” added Stratton.
At the second workshop of the Series, families will make colonial cole slaw, which would have been made with vinegar, and discover various methods of food preservation for the winter months.
To register for Huzzah! Family Workshop: Colonial Salad, which takes place in the museum’s Folsom Tavern from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, visit independencemuseum.org.
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.
by emma | Oct 15, 2019 | Events
On Saturday, October 26, the American Independence Museum will host “Ghosts of Folsom Tavern and Winter Street Cemetery Tour.”
The tour will begin at Folsom Tavern where Colonel & Mrs. Folsom will introduce guests to their 1775 home and business. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet Elizabeth Ewer, a 19th century spiritualist who lived in the tavern. Participants will then walk or drive to Winter Street Cemetery to meet their colonial tour guide, who will reveal the Folsoms’ final resting place and discuss the graves of many of Exeter’s famous and infamous revolutionary residents.
“This is autumnal-themed, non-scary fun during the Halloween season that is appropriate for all ages,” noted the museum’s Victoria Su, who organizes the event.
Among Exeter’s earliest settlers, the Folsoms arrived with the Gilman family with whom they were related. The history of both families–and that of Exeter and its role in the Revolutionary War–feature prominently in the exhibits and collection at the American Independence Museum.
Ghosts of Folsom Tavern and Winter Street Cemetery Tour will take place on Saturday, October 26 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Folsom Tavern with Winter Street Cemetery tours every 30 minutes beginning at 4 p.m. through 5:30 p.m. Cemetery tours will last approximately 45 minutes and guests attending the later two tours are encouraged to bring flashlights.
The cost is $13 for non-members and $10 for non-member children, ages 6-18. Members are $8 and members’ children, ages 6-18, are $5. All children under the age of 6 are free.
Ticket prices include a visit to the museum day of the event (must visit Ladd-Gilman House before 3:30pm), activities and check in at Folsom Tavern with seasonal refreshments and cemetery tour.
To purchase tickets online, visit independencemuseum.org.
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.
by emma | Sep 26, 2019 | Events
Presented by Harman Law Offices, the American Independence Museum’s Huzzah Family Workshop Series this fall will present an opportunity for families to create (and eat) historically accurate food together. The series will also explore the relevance of colonial foodways to today.
At the first session on October 23 at the museum’s Folsom Tavern, families will use a variety of greens and vegetables that would have been available to colonists to prepare historically accurate salads.
At the second session on November 20, families will make colonial cole slaw, which would have been made with vinegar as a means of preserving vegetables through the winter.
“I am delighted to sponsor this revamped series, which will engage entire families in activities that will get them thinking about history and have fun at the same time,” said Terrie Harman of Harman Law Offices.
According to museum Executive Director Emma Stratton, Harman’s support enabled the museum to devote additional time and resources to reconceive the program.
“We are very excited to work with Terrie and local restaurants to deliver an innovative new take on our Huzzah Family Workshop Series,” she said. “Creating an opportunity for families to both create a part of a meal and eat that meal in our historic Tavern is essential to connecting today.”
Both sessions are free, although there may be additional options to pre-purchase food from nearby restaurants to complement what participants make in the sessions. Details regarding times of the sessions and cost of additional food add-ons will be released soon.
About the American Independence Museum
The American Independence Museum is a history museum in Exeter, NH that features a collection of 3,000 historic artifacts that shed light on the American Revolution. Many of our programs touch on civics and the fight for independence, while we incorporate inclusivity and diversity into the experiences we create on-site and in digital formats. We feature a variety of things to do for people of all ages, including festivals, an historic tavern, guided tours and our annual American Independence Festival.
