Mini Camp: Working in the 18th Century

Mini Camp: Working in the 18th Century

Working in the 18th century. Sailor, merchants, farmers, shopkeepers and tavern keepers are just a few of the jobs of colonial Exeter you will discover. What jobs were available to women? Did children help out with the family business? Try your hand at a colonial trade or two, sell goods to your neighbors and barter and trade at the market, all while wearing colonial clothing. 

Cost for 1 week: $55 non-members, $45 members

Cost for all 4 weeks: $195 non-members, $170 members
Includes a reproduction Badge of Military Merit like the ones Revolutionary War heroes received!

Mini Camp: Working in the 18th Century

Mini Camp: Not a soldier? Everyday people

Not a soldier? Everyday people, laborers, farmers, housewives, and even children all were deeply affected by the war and contributed to the cause. Dress in colonial clothing and carry out daily chores (hauling water and wood, tending the garden, cooking, etc.). Prepare a colonial snack.

Cost for 1 week: $55 non-members, $45 members

Cost for all 4 weeks: $195 non-members, $170 members
Includes a reproduction Badge of Military Merit like the ones Revolutionary War heroes received!

Tavern Talk: Uprooted

Tavern Talk: Uprooted

Uprooted is a 30-minute documentary based on interviews collected during New Hampshire Humanities’ Fences & Neighbors initiative on immigration. It tells the story of five refugees who escaped from war-torn countries to resettle in New Hampshire. The film explores what it means to be a refugee and how it feels to make a new life in a strange place, often without English language skills, family, a job, or community contacts. The film leaves us pondering questions of belonging and citizenship. What does it mean to be an American? Once a refugee, are you destined always to be a refugee? What are our responsibilities toward one another?

More information
Presented by Sara Withers as part of New Hampshire Humanities to Go program.

This Tavern Talk will include an introduction to the film, a screening, and a guided discussion afterwards.

Registration is Open for Traveling Trunk

Registration is Open for Traveling Trunk

Educating thousands of K-12 students from across the nation since its inception in 2016, the American Independence Museum’s free Traveling Trunk program is open for 2022 registration.

Developed with initial seed funding from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the program uses revolutionary history to explore themes relevant today.

Shipped in a trunk, the program contains 70+ high quality reproduction items and colonial history curriculum materials that may be utilized by teachers for students of varying ages.

“We can customize the program, too, to suit individual needs,” said Museum Executive Director Emma Stratton, who said museum staff is currently exploring ways to ‘digitize’ aspects of the program.

“We are developing interactive digital programs and events that will remove barriers — physical or financial — for people of all ages,” she added. “Digital engagement and inclusivity is a big focus for the museum, as we look to the future.”

To learn more about the Traveling Trunk, which may be shipped anywhere in the United States, 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.

New staff underscore commitment to innovation at American Independence Museum

New staff underscore commitment to innovation at American Independence Museum

It may be the offseason for the American Independence Museum, but that does not mean staff are “off,” according to Executive Director Emma Stratton, who cited two recent new hires as proof.

“Like many organizations, our operations shifted dramatically from in-person to digital engagement last year, which has created new staffing opportunities,” she said.

These new opportunities include program assistant and content and marketing manager, roles that will be filled by Emma Scheinmann and Sabina Ion, respectively.

“I am thrilled to have Sabina and Emma join our team,” said Stratton. “Both possess a strong museum background, exceptional skills and demonstrated success in their areas of expertise.”

Each expressing enthusiasm at joining the current staff at the Museum, Scheinmann and Ion said they plan to proverbially “hit the ground running.”

“I am excited to rework all education and public engagements to be mission and collections driven and to show the public value of museums,” noted Scheinmann.

A trained archaeologist who “[loves] digging into the past,” Ion said she looks forward to enhancing and developing the Museum’s content strategy.

“I will promote and showcase all the wonderful programming the team has been creating and the fascinating items in the Museum collection,” she said.

Noting she received a Master of Arts in Museum Education from Tufts University in May 2020, Scheinmann added, “I see myself as a facilitator for learning with the Museum as my toolbox.”

In looking ahead to the 2021 season, which begins on May 1, Stratton cited digital engagement as an increasingly important focus of the Museum’s education and public programs.

“As the Museum celebrates its 30th anniversary, we are renewing our focus on civic engagement, too,” she added. “This mission will be reflected in our work, and we look forward to sharing more with the public this year.”

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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