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Category: Family Friendly

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Free Admission through Smithsonian Museum Day

Seven individuals walk around a museum room with a pyramidal shaped interactive in the middle of the room

On September 17, 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention formally signed and adopted the United States Constitution. Nearly 250 years later, we celebrate this day as Constitution Day or Citizenship Day.

The American Independence Museum is thrilled to offer free admission to all on Saturday, September 17 through the Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Program. Smithsonian Museum Day is a program where hundreds of museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free admission to individuals who have registered through the Smithsonian’s website.

“We are thrilled to once again participate in the Museum Day Program. Free admission on Constitution Day provides all guests with the opportunity to not only celebrate this important day in our nation’s history, but see our working drafts of the Constitution with handwritten notes that show how much thought and effort went into our creating our founding documents,” said Jennifer Carr, Curator and Acting Executive Director at the American Independence Museum. The museum collection includes two early drafts of the US Constitution. Visitors are encouraged to compare these two versions, written one month apart, and note the seemingly small yet impactful differences in language, such as the change from listing the thirteen original states by name to “We the People of the United States.”

To further commemorate the day, the museum will be putting on the final part of their Five Freedoms Family Saturdays, a civic educational program that explores the five freedoms outlined in the First Amendment with family-friendly activities geared toward younger children.

Program Manager Sarah Jaworski notes that, “it’s important that all future citizens, no matter how small, understand the nation’s founding documents. Through this program we want to celebrate that the US Constitution is a document by and for the people.”

To register for Smithsonian Museum Day and plan your visit, go to www.independencemuseum.org.

About the American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

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Colonial Reenactors, Traditional Artisans, and Beer Garden Highlight American Independence Festival

Line of individuals dressed in knee breeches, shirts, and tricorn hats typical to the 18th century play on the drums.

Featuring Colonial reenactors, Traditional Artisans Village, games, and Beer Garden next to an historic tavern (c. 1775), the American Independence Festival on Saturday, July 16 is expected to attract 1,000+ from across New England.

According to Jennifer Carr, interim Executive Director of the American Independence Museum, which presents the annual festival on its downtown Exeter, NH campus, its continued popularity and relevance stems from its unique subject matter. “There is a lot of curiosity about our nation’s formative years,” she said. “This event not only presents folklife from this time period, but interprets it through demonstrations by professional traditional artisans who practice colonial ways of creating things that shed light on our past and present.”

Within the Village, artisans demonstrate everything from ropemaking, spinning, coopering, and millinery, to tinsmithing and pottery, while others play instruments, including the clavichord, dulcimer, and harpsichord. Aside from the Village, presented by New Hampshire State Council of the Arts, visitors can tour the Ladd-Gilman House (c. 1721) within which an original copy of the Declaration of Independence may be viewed.

“We recreate the reading of the Declaration of Independence with a direct descendant of John Taylor Gilman, who read it to the townspeople in 1776,” added Carr. “At this year’s festival, visitors can also experience some of our new exhibits, which interpret Revolutionary-era events and culture from diverse perspectives.”

At the museum’s Folsom Tavern, kids can enjoy the newly opened Foy Family Children’s Library, which features a reading nook, curated books on 18th century life, Revolutionary-era dress-up, play kitchen, games, and more. Outside the tavern, adults (ages 21+) can enjoy craft brew from Cisco Brewers.

“We also feature discussions led by first-person reenactors who provide insight into Revolutionary America and ourselves today,” added Carr. “It’s a wonderful immersive experience.”

This immersive experience centered on New Hampshire’s collective Revolutionary past and present is what has attracted Newburyport Bank as a leading festival sponsor for several years. “This is such a unique event that helps visitors of all ages better understand and appreciate what it took to make a nation,” said Mercedes Monaco, business development manager, Newburyport Bank. “We are thrilled to support this year’s American Independence Festival. It is such an honor to be part of the Revolutionary Era legacy of Exeter.”

The 32nd American Independence Festival takes place on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids (ages 4 to 18) and $10 for adults with admission free for kids under 4, museum members, and veterans and active military.

To learn more about the museum or purchase festival tickets in advance visit independencemuseum.org.

About the American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

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American Independence Festival Uses History To Teach People of All Ages

Aim and Kennebunk Savings Partner for Festival

History is not a term that merely describes the past, a theme that partly explains the popularity of the American Independence Museum’s upcoming American Independence Festival. Entering its 32nd year, the festival features first-person re-enactors and military demonstrations, all of which shed light on Revolutionary America and its connection to the present.

“History is not just a page in a book—history is all around us,” noted Jennifer Carr, interim executive director of the American Independence Museum. “Our annual festival brings history to life and helps to demonstrate how what happens in our past has direct connections to what takes place today.”

Generally attracting nearly 1,000 visitors to its one-acre campus located in the heart of downtown historic Exeter, the festival takes place this year on Saturday, July 16. Other festival highlights include a beer garden with Cisco Brewers and a Traditional Artisan Village presented by the New Hampshire State Council of the Arts.

For corporate sponsors, the festival represents an important community event. “Through reenactments and storytelling, the event preserves an incredibly important time in the history of our nation for both current and future generations,” said Bradford C. Paige, President and CEO of Kennebunk Savings.

In addition to Kennebunk Savings and New Hampshire State Council of the Arts, major sponsors include Newburyport Bank with additional support from RiverWoods Exeter, Cambridge Trust, and Cisco Brewers. “Sponsors of this event,” said Carr, “help us not only pay traditional artisans and Revolutionary reenactors, but to also put one of the only remaining original copies of the Declaration of Independence on display.”

While experienced as fun by visitors, Carr said the deeper mission behind the festival is “to get people thinking.” “We are a product of our past,” she said. “If we can inspire just a handful of people to rethink what they think they know about American history and, by extension, themselves, then we have been successful.”

The 32nd American Independence Festival takes place on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $5 for kids (ages 4 to 18) and $10 for adults with admission free for kids under 4, museum members, and veterans and active military.

To learn more about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit independencemuseum.org.

About the American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

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Kids are Encouraged to Play in Foy Family Children’s Library

Three individuals stand in a room full of child friendly 18th century reproductions including a wall of dress up garments.

A project that began before the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, the Foy Family Children’s Library is now open at the American Independence Museum. Located in the museum’s Folsom Tavern (c. 1775), the library features a reading nook with comfortable seating, curated books that focus on 18th century life, dress-up area with Revolutionary-era clothing, play kitchen, games, and more.

“This is a child-friendly space where everything is touchable,” said the museum’s Program Manager Sarah Jaworski, who selected the books with Melissa Foy, a retired school media specialist.

Melissa and husband Jeff have long been supporters of the museum. Their financial gift made the library possible, an opportunity that “excites” them both.

“We want to see kids get in there and use it,” said Jeff, who has also supported the museum for years as co-owner of Foy Insurance. “I hope the space inspires kids to learn about history and make that part of their studies and the thing they are interested in at school.”

According to Jaworski, the newly transformed space provides a unique opportunity for kids and families.

“It’s a space where kids can be kids and be free to explore — this is a welcoming space where kids can learn through play,” she said. “The old adage, ‘Look, don’t touch,’ won’t apply here.”

The Foy Family Children’s Library is also part of the museum’s larger initiative to foster inclusion and diversity.

“We are talking with Twenty-One Senses, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing inclusion for children with invisible disabilities, to explore different uses of this space,” said Jaworski. “We want kids with sensory challenges to feel welcome here, so this is an important initiative that addresses real community needs.”

Interim Executive Director Jennifer Carr agrees and added, “We are committed to developing our entire museum campus into an open, inviting, inclusive place…and it starts with the kids.”

To learn more about the museum, visit independencemuseum.org.

About the American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

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RiverWoods Exeter renews partnership with AIM

Adelle Gabrielson, RiverWoods Exeter's Marketing Manager on left with Jennifer Carr, Interim Executive Director of American Independence Museum

RiverWoods Exeter, a nationally-accredited charitable not-for-profit continuing care retirement community, will sponsor the 32nd American Independence Festival on Saturday, July 16. Presented by the American Independence Museum, the festival features a Traditional Artisans Village, historic reenactors, activities, and the opportunity to view one of 26 remaining copies of an original print of the Declaration of Independence.

Regarding the sponsorship, Interim Executive Director Jennifer Carr referred to RiverWoods Exeter as “an integral part of this annual festival.” “They have been part of this festival for years, so it’s wonderful to have them contribute again to a celebration of our nation’s history and the Exeter community,” she said.

Referring to the festival as “one of the most unique and truly special summer celebrations offered on the Seacoast,” Deb Riddell, Executive Director of RiverWoods Exeter, said they are “thrilled” to again support it. She said supporting the festival stems from RiverWoods Exeter’s founders, two Seacoast area women who wove a commitment to the local community into the fabric of their founding principles

“RiverWoods Exeter is not just a business located within the borders of the town,” she explained. “We are a neighborhood of nearly 600 engaged citizens, many of whom are active in the local community and care deeply about the Town of Exeter. They volunteer locally in many capacities, and feel a sense of civic duty and pride about our town.”

According to Carr, inspiring civic duty is one of the primary objectives of the museum itself. “We want visitors of any age to walk away from the festival, or any event or program here, and consider more deeply their responsibility as citizens,” she said. “A democracy works better when its citizens are engaged.”

To learn more about the 32nd annual American Independence Festival, visit https://www.independencemuseum.org/american-independence-festival/.

About the American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

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Fireside Tavern Night at the American Independence Museum

Folsom Tavern covered in snow

On Thursday, December 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the American Independence Museum will host Fireside Tavern Night at Folsom Tavern (c. 1775).

Free for all ages, the event will feature colonial music, fireside cooking demonstrations, hot cider and refreshments, and opportunities to make simple crafts. Attendees will also be able to purchase items from the museum’s gift shop inside the tavern.

“We will also have local vendors selling handcrafted and carefully curated gifts,” said the museum’s Sarah Jaworski, who noted Folsom Tavern will also be decorated for the holidays. “It will be a very festive atmosphere.”

Fireside Tavern Night takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 2 both within and outside of Folsom Tavern, 164 Water St., Exeter, NH. Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring healthy non-perishable food and toiletry donations for St. Vincent dePaul. Masks are required inside.

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.

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AIM Encourages Shopping Local With Museum Store Sunday

Museum Gift store with items for the holiday season

On Sunday, November 28, 2021, the American Independence Museum will be taking part in its second annual Museum Store Sunday. More than 1,650 museum stores representing 50 states, 24 countries, and five continents will offer inspired shopping at museums and cultural institutions during Museum Store Sunday. The museum joins museum stores worldwide in this signature annual initiative by offering unique gifts for the holiday season—with all purchases supporting its mission.

“Last year was the American Independence Museum’s first year participating in Museum Store Sunday. We were still closed because of the pandemic, but used this event as further encouragement to make our store available online,” said Executive Director Emma Stratton.

With a variety of products in the store this is the perfect time to stock up on holiday gifts for loved ones. Items range from history books, examining New Hampshire’s revolutionary past, to colonial-inspired children’s games, and hand-crafted goods made by local artisans. All items can be shipped, or are available for local pick-up the week of November 29.

“Thanks to our participation in Museum Store Sunday we had online customers shopping from multiple states and shipped more than we had ever before!”

Shoppers can look forward to Museum Store Sunday as the global annual day to Be a Patron – and shop conscientiously and support museum stores and their missions worldwide. While there is only one Museum Store Sunday each year, everyone is encouraged to Be a Patron of museums and museum stores all year round.
To participate, shop on independencemuseum.org this November 28.

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.

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Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery Tours

On Saturday, October 23, the American Independence Museum will host Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery, a popular family-friendly event that takes visitors on a tour through history.

“Our colonial guide meets you at Winter Street Cemetery and walks you through it while showing you the graves of some of Exeter’s most famous and infamous revolutionary residents,” said the museum’s Sarah Jaworski.

Primarily used from the 1740’s to 1870’s, Winter Street Cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent members of Exeter, including governors, Revolutionary and Civil War veterans, politicians and others.

Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery takes place every 30 minutes, 4:00 p.m. through 5:30 p.m., at Winter Street Cemetery on Saturday, October 23. There is a 3 p.m. tour designed especially for families with elementary school aged children, who are invited to wear their Halloween costume while discovering stories of the past and tasting a colonial treat.

All tours will last approximately 45 minutes with guests encouraged to bring flashlights for the last two tours. The cost is $10 for non-members and $7 for non-member children, ages 6-18. Members are $5 and members’ children, ages 6-18, are $3. All children under 6 are free.

Ticket price includes the cemetery tour and a return pass to visit the museum. Click here to purchase tickets.

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.

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Join AIM’s Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery Tour

On Saturday, October 23, the American Independence Museum will host Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery, a popular family-friendly event that takes visitors on a tour through history.

“Our colonial guide meets you at Winter Street Cemetery and walks you through it while showing you the graves of some of Exeter’s most famous and infamous revolutionary residents,” said the museum’s Sarah Jaworski.

Primarily used from the 1740’s to 1870’s, Winter Street Cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent members of Exeter, including governors, Revolutionary and Civil War veterans, politicians and others.

Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery takes place every 30 minutes, 4:00 p.m. through 5:30 p.m., at Winter Street Cemetery on Saturday, October 23. There is a 3 p.m. tour designed especially for families with elementary school aged children, who are invited to wear their Halloween costume while discovering stories of the past and tasting a colonial treat.

All tours will last approximately 45 minutes with guests encouraged to bring flashlights for the last two tours. The cost is $10 for non-members and $7 for non-member children, ages 6-18. Members are $5 and members’ children, ages 6-18, are $3. All children under 6 are free.

Ticket price includes the cemetery tour and a return pass to visit the museum. To purchase tickets, click here.

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.

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AIM to offer Homeschool Days

Children wearing tricorn hats making their own stamps on paper plates

On Friday, October 15 and 22, the American Independence Museum in Exeter will host Homeschool Days, a program geared to kids, ages 6 to 11. During the 90-minute program, kids will grapple with the “tricky decision” regarding their stance on the Revolutionary War.

“Would they be a patriot, loyalist, neutral, or something else?” noted museum Executive Director Emma Stratton. “It was not an easy decision for British citizens in the 1770s.”

According to Stratton, a deeper objective behind the program is to spark curiosity in both students and parents.

“Political debates are often reduced to two sides, which oversimplifies the reality of human experience,” she said. “We hope to encourage participants to think about how some of the challenges faced by people in the 1770s have a direct connection to events taking place today.”

Homeschool Days will take place on Friday, October 15 and 22 from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the museum’s Folsom Tavern in downtown Exeter.

“Four sessions of this program are offered twice on each Friday, so families have multiple opportunities to access it based on their schedules,” added Stratton.

The cost for the program is $5 for adults, $8 for students over 6, and free for children under 6 years of age. The program fee includes a pass to visit the museum after the program or another day.

Weather permitting, the program will take place under a tent outside Folsom Tavern. Masks will be required indoors, and parents must accompany the program with their child(ren).

To register online, or learn more about the museum, visit Homeschool Days Events.

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.

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