American Independence Museum Receives $10,000 Grant from Americana Corner

American Independence Museum Receives $10,000 Grant from Americana Corner

by | Mar 19, 2024 | Grants, Restoration

The American Independence Museum (AIM) has received a $10,000 grant from Americana Corner as part of its Preserving America Grant Program. Americana Corner’s Preserving America Grant program was established to assist nonprofit organizations in the telling of the incredible story of America from its founding era through its first century as a nation.

According to AIM Facilities Manager Rebeccah Seely, the award will fund essential preservation work at Folsom Tavern (c. 1775), which will include repairs to—and restaining of—various sections of clapboard siding. “We are thrilled by this award, which covers nearly half of the total project cost,” she said.

Built by Samuel Folsom, Folsom Tavern was visited by George Washington in 1789. It was also the site of the formation of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783. Founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution, the Society owns both buildings on the AIM campus.

The other historic structure on the AIM campus is the Ladd-Gilman House (c.  1721), a National Historic Landmark property that was home to Nicholas Gilman, Jr., a signer of the Constitution. The Ladd-Gilman House also served as the Governor’s mansion when Nicholas’s brother, John Taylor Gilman, was Governor of New Hampshire.

“Grant awards like this from Americana Corner are instrumental in our ability to preserve the integrity of both AIM structures,” noted Seely. “We appreciate their support of our work and our mission.”

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About 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’.

American Independence Museum Receives $11,200 Grant from Cogswell Benevolent Trust

American Independence Museum Receives $11,200 Grant from Cogswell Benevolent Trust

by | Feb 8, 2024 | Grants, Partnerships

The American Independence Museum (AIM) has received a $11,200 grant from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust to affect repairs to deteriorating walls and ceilings within the Ladd-Gilman House (c. 1721).

The repairs represent the back end of a multi-phase, multi-year project in which AIM shored up the structural integrity of the Ladd-Gilman House through comprehensive restoration efforts guided by historic building experts. “With the exterior work now complete and the landscape regraded to usher water away from the Ladd-Gilman House, we can focus our attention on the integrity of interior rooms,” explained Facilities Manager Rebeccah Seely.

According to AIM Executive Director Jennifer Carr, the grant award underscores the importance of the Ladd-Gilman House. A National Historic Landmark property that was home to Nicholas Gilman, Jr., a signer of the Constitution, the home also served as Governor’s mansion when his brother, John Taylor Gilman, was Governor of New Hampshire. Their father, Nicholas Gilman, Sr., served as the state’s first Treasurer.

“The Ladd-Gilman House is the heart of the museum’s operation,” added Carr, who cited AIM’s other historic structure, Folsom Tavern (c. 1775) as equally important. “Folsom Tavern was built by Samuel Folsom and visited by George Washington in 1789, and it was the site of the formation of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783.”

Founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution, the Society is still active today. “They own both buildings and a majority of the 3,000+ objects in our collection,” said Carr.

Regarding the grant award from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, Seely expressed excitement and gratitude. “I am thrilled that we can proceed with these repairs,” she said. “Visitors will be amazed at just how beautiful our rooms will be once these repairs are complete. We are so grateful for the support of the Cogswell Benevolent Trust.”

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About 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’.

Eventide Foundation To Support Accessibility at American Independence Museum

Eventide Foundation To Support Accessibility at American Independence Museum

by | Dec 7, 2023 | Grants

In mid-December, the American Independence Museum (AIM) received a $6,500 grant from Eventide Foundation, which will enhance accessibility at the nonprofit institution in 2024 and beyond.

“Currently, our campus does not have any outside seating or places where visitors can comfortably gather, which impacts older adults in particular,” explained Jennifer Carr, AIM Executive Director. “This grant from Eventide will help us address this critical need.”

In addition to outside benches and portable tables, the grant will help cover most of the cost to place a portable bathroom on the AIM campus for the 2024 season. Currently, AIM’s Folsom Tavern does not have an accessible bathroom, which presents a significant accessibility barrier for many visitors.

“A portable, handicapped-accessible bathroom outside Folsom Tavern will not only enhance accessibility but also unlock immediate opportunities to revamp our programs and facility rentals,” Carr said. “We want the museum to serve as a gathering spot for community members and tourists…This grant helps us take a big step forward in that direction.”

In addition to its Accessibility Initiative, AIM is also deepening its commitment to We Are One, its 3-year organizational theme. The central message behind We Are One is that all voices and all lives matter.

“We acknowledge that our nation has a complicated history where not everyone has enjoyed freedom or liberty,” noted Carr. “We explore this history in the hopes we can develop a shared understanding regarding how we can move forward together.”

To support AIM’s Accessibility Initiative, click here or the button below.

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About 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’.

Drainage Project Completed at American Independence Museum

Drainage Project Completed at American Independence Museum

by | Oct 11, 2023 | Events, Grants, Restoration

While developing various educational and family-friendly programs, the American Independence Museum (AIM) is also charged with caring for two 18th-century historic structures, a responsibility that recently entailed the successful conclusion of a drainage project.

Made possible by an anonymous donation and a grant from The Mcininch Foundation, the project represents the last phase of a moisture remediation project for AIM’s Ladd-Gilman House (1721) that began in 2019. “We have been able to connect the downspouts on the structure’s northerly side with an underground drainage system to the lower lawn event area behind Folsom Tavern,” said Rebeccah Seely, AIM Facilities Manager.

Connecting the downspouts to an underground system, according to Seely, will direct water away from the foundation and help to resolve ongoing water issues in the basement of the Ladd-Gilman House. “It also completes the perimeter drainage plan for the Ladd-Gilman House, which includes the installation of a stormwater drainage system on the south side of the building in 2019,” she added.

According to AIM Executive Director Jennifer Carr, the project underscores the continued need for funding at the museum. “These are more than just buildings,” she said. “These are tangible links to our past. They house our collection. They are the backdrop to programs and events. There is no substitute for experiencing buildings this old, this historic, in-person.”

Built in 1721, the Ladd-Gilman House is a National Historic Landmark property that was home to Nicholas Gilman, Jr., a signer of the Constitution. The home also served as Governor’s mansion when Nicholas’ brother, John Taylor Gilman, was Governor of New Hampshire. Their father—Nicholas Gilman, Sr.—served as the state’s first Treasurer.

Built in 1775 by Samuel Folsom, Folsom Tavern was visited by George Washington in 1789 and was the site of the formation of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783. The nation’s oldest patriotic organization, the Society was founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution.

“There is so much history here,” said Carr. “The only caveat is that it requires consistent support to maintain and continue to reinterpret it.”

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About 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’.

Major Grant Award Highlights Inclusive Storytelling

Major Grant Award Highlights Inclusive Storytelling

by | Jul 4, 2022 | Exhibits, Governance, Grants, Human Interest

Although not its inventor, the American Independence Museum (AIM) has made a concerted effort to make ‘inclusive storytelling’ a significant part of its in-person tour experience.

“We did not invent the term, ‘inclusive storytelling,’ but we have embraced it,” noted Curator Jennifer Carr, who also currently serves as Interim Executive Director at the American Independence Museum.

This dual role has helped her develop her own unique perspective on the importance of inclusive storytelling. “In years past, we generally told stories from one perspective and focused heavily on military items in our collection,” she said. “We can do more than that. We should do more than that.”

As a history museum, Carr said AIM plays a critical role in sharing many different perspectives, such as those of Black Americans, women and Indigenous people with a broader public. Recently, the ability to fulfill this role has been significantly enhanced by a grant award of $21,250 from the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation to enhance the museum’s archival and exhibit infrastructure.

“This grant enables us to purchase five sealed archival microclimate cases that will display rare historic items with incredible stories that shed different perspectives on Revolutionary history,” said Carr.

Some of the items that will be displayed in these cases include Indigenous artifacts that were uncovered on the museum’s property during an archaeological dig in 2019. These items include a 2,700 year-old projectile point (arrowhead), stone flakes created as a result of knapping (the product of producing stone weapons), and pieces of Indigenous pottery.

Carr said many of these items are ‘pre-contact’ and will allow the museum to acknowledge the Indigenous presence on the land and share their history with guests. “These cases will also help with preservation, as they feature UV filters and humidity control measures that will help to preserve items,” she added.

In addition to these cases, the grant award will cover costs associated with purchasing new stands and labels, as each display will feature accompanying text (inclusive stories). These stands and labels will also be ADA compliant.

“Due to manufacturing delays, these changes likely won’t be implemented until the 2023 season, but this grant gives us serious focus as we plan our exhibit calendar,” said Carr. “We have already made changes in our current exhibits, so if you have not visited us in a couple years, please do. You will be surprised at the stories we are telling.”

To learn more about the museum, or its current tours and programming, 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’.

American Independence Museum Receives $10,000 Grant

American Independence Museum Receives $10,000 Grant

by | May 4, 2021 | Governance, Grants

A $10,000 grant from the Cogswell Benevolent Trust will support the American Independence Museum in its efforts to effect critical masonry repairs to the back portion of the Ladd-Gilman House’s attached caretaker’s cottage. The restoration project is part of a larger multi-year drainage and grounds work project that began in 2019.

“Water was pooling in our basements, which created a humid environment that is detrimental to collections care and storage,” said museum Executive Director Emma Stratton. “It’s very important we develop a permanent solution to this issue.”

This issue compromised the structural integrity of the foundation of caretaker’s cottage, where the museum’s offices and archives are located.

“We are very thankful for the support of the Cogswell Benevolent Trust in its continued support of our collection care efforts,” said Stratton, who said this phase of the project involves other related repairs.

These repairs include tying the gutter system on the caretaker’s cottage to an existing drainage system in the newly rebuilt retaining wall and re-grading the grounds.

“We are also completing a pathway between both of our historic buildings and adding handrails to all public entrances. We look forward to making our grounds more accessible to the public,” she added.

Built in 1721, the Ladd-Gilman House is a National Historic Landmark property that was home to Nicholas Gilman, Jr., a signer of the Constitution. The home also served as Governor’s mansion when Nicholas’ brother, John Taylor Gilman, was Governor of New Hampshire. Their father—Nicholas Gilman, Sr.—served as the state’s first Treasurer.

Built in 1775 by Samuel Folsom and visited by George Washington in 1789, Folsom Tavern was the site of the formation of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783. The nation’s oldest patriotic organization, the Society was founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution.

“This is a big year for the museum, as we plan to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Ladd-Gilman House and our 30th anniversary as a museum,” said Stratton.

The project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

To learn more about the museum, including its Patriot’s Day Membership Drive, 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.

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