On Saturday, June 15 from 10 am to 4 pm, the American Independence Museum, Historic New England’s Gilman Garrison House, and Exeter Historical Society will be open for free.

At the American Independence Museum, visitors can take self-guided and docent-led tours on a first come, first served basis with colonial games outside, weather permitting. Gilman Garrison House will offer guided tours on the hour, while Exeter Historical Society will host an open house and offer guided walking tours of historic downtown Exeter at 11 am and 1 pm. 

“This is the first time in recent memory that the three sites have collaborated for a town-wide event and celebration of Exeter’s unique history,” said Emma Bray, executive director of the American Independence Museum. “We are very excited to offer this opportunity to NH residents.”

Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, the American Independence Museum welcomes more than 5,000 visitors annually and offers educational school programs and events that make history fun and relevant.

Built in 1709 by the Gilman family, the Gilman Garrison House is an unusual structure, featuring walls constructed of massive sawn logs, a pulley above the main entrance, and view ports that reveal its architectural evolution.

The Exeter Historical Society offers regular programs of local historical interest and is a repository for documents, maps, photos, artifacts and other ephemera pertaining to Exeter, New Hampshire.

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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