by emma | Mar 26, 2019 | Exhibits
With the 2019 season just around the proverbial corner–opening day is May 1–American Independence Museum staff are hard at work developing a full calendar of programs and events, but they are not alone.
“Volunteers work alongside staff in so many areas of our operation,” said Emma Bray, executive director. “We could not do what we do without their time and expertise.”
Some volunteers, such as Bill Jennison, work as tour guides.
“It is not everyday you get to come to an historic town and work within a 300-year-old building and interact with people and rare objects,” he said. “I consider it a privilege to come and work here.”
Rachel Passannante, collections and visitor services manager, said Jennison has additionally taken on the role of general handyman.
“Bill has been incredibly reliable,” she said. “His personality is infectious and he always makes the day enjoyable. He absolutely loves history, and I am glad we can be an outlet for him and other guides to share their knowledge and love of history.”
For Jennison, who lives in Exeter, there is no other place where he would want to spend his free time.
“Seeing the staff working at making this place run and it succeeding is great,” he said.“It’s a great environment with great people.”
Bray added, “Volunteers provide so much value to the museum. Great people like Bill help energize staff, too.”
The American Independence Museum features more than 3,000 items in its collection, including one of only 26 surviving copies of the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence.
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 | Mar 20, 2019 | Uncategorized
On any given day in the summer, the American Independence Museum in Exeter welcomes dozens of visitors, including youth who participate in lively engaging programs with costumed re-enactors.
“Our Revolutionary Kids Summer Camp provides kids with a fun, interactive learning experience,” said Education Manager Abigail Pietrantonio. “It’s fun for kids to interact with colonial re-enactors and experience life as an 18th century resident of Exeter. It is a unique program.”
It is a program that also resonates with parents, including Mary Ann Cappiello, whose daughter Ella participated in the program for two years before volunteering her time for the past two years.
“She came to camp because she loved all the hands-on learning experiences and wearing 18th century clothing, but it also definitely helped deepen her knowledge and her love of history,” she said.
This love of history, she said, is crucial given the marginalization of social studies education at the elementary level.
“I want to do something about that,” said Cappiello, who noted she herself has become involved in the museum by serving on its education committee.
“[It] connects me with other local educators who care about history and want to help the museum make a difference in the lives of community members and visitors from all over the world,” she added.
Expressing excitement at the museum’s summer camp in 2019, Pietrantonio said she hopes Ella’s experience can entice others between the ages of 9 and 11.
“It’s a fun program that enables kids to step back in time and really use their imaginations,” she said.
The American Independence Museum features more than 3,000 items in its collection, including one of only 26 surviving copies of the Dunlap Broadside of the Declaration of Independence.
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.
The museum is also a member of the 17-member NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information about the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.
by emma | Feb 27, 2019 | story time
On March 7, the American Independence Museum in Exeter will host the 2019 season’s first Revolutionary Story Time!, which will take place on the first Thursday of each month through December.
Designed for kids, ages 3 to 5, the program features books, stories, crafts, and music in the first 30 minutes. Afterwards, parent-supervised playtime includes crafts, imaginary play, colonial games, and period dress-up.
Grandmother and Newburyport, MA resident Elizabeth Hallett said she “loves” to bring her grandson David to Revolutionary Story Time!.
“I bring my grandson so that he will become excited to learn more about the history of our country,” she said. “Being able to play on the hearth and try on historic clothing afterwards, or play with some old fashioned toys is a big bonus. It is all of these things that make it so worthwhile to keep returning.”
The program takes place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Folsom Tavern, 164 Water Street in Exeter, NH. Due to the historical nature of the Tavern, strollers are not encouraged, as the building is not handicapped accessible. Reservations are accepted but not required.
“If I could, I would encourage every parent, grandparent, and caregiver to attend with the child or children in their care to gain knowledge of and appreciation for the people and the history that made our country,” added Hallett.
Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, the museum welcomes more than 5,000 visitors annually and distinguishes itself with educational school programs and events that make history fun and relevant.
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.
The museum is a member of the 17-member NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information about the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.
by rob | Feb 19, 2019 | Events
Volunteers are crucial to any nonprofit, which underscores the importance staff at the American Independence Museum is placing on two upcoming volunteer information session on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 5 and 6.
“Volunteers are often the first point of contact the public has with the museum,” said Victoria Su, public programs & engagement manager. “We are a very small staff of only 5 employees, and we simply could not do all we do without the help of many dedicated volunteers.”
Currently the biggest need at the museum is gift shop attendants, educators and guides.
“These are opportunities where volunteers can work closely with a very accessible and professional staff who are very open to their ideas, talents, knowledge and skills,” added Su. “Volunteers also have the opportunity to share the museum’s unique history and collection with students, guests and visitors from all over the country.”
For Manchester resident Christy Slavik Hamilton, who is a volunteer teacher educator, the American Independence Museum is “the perfect setting to help students discover that history is real and connects to today.”
“Students have access to authentic objects and documents,” she said. “The experiences we can provide are intimate and interactive, and the programs help students[…]dig deep to understand context and points of view.”
Noting she works with school groups, Hamilton said she has also helped out with special events, such as the American Independence Festival in July and Holiday Colonial Tea in December.
While Hamilton’s background is in education–she recently retired as a fifth-grade Language Arts and American History teacher in Natick, MA–museum Executive Director Emma Bray stresses that prior experience is not a requirement for volunteers.
“There are so many ways community members can become involved at the museum,” she said. “There is no one type of volunteer.”
Su agreed and said volunteers at the museum enjoy a lot of perks, some of which include year-end celebrations, free memberships, gift shop discounts, possible recognition in social media and more.
“Volunteering at the museum is a lot of fun and a rich and rewarding experience for community members and staff alike,” she said.
To learn more about volunteering, the museum will host Volunteer Information Sessions on Tuesday, March 5 from 10 to 11:30 am and on Wednesday, March 6 from 6 to 7:30 pm. Both events will be held in the museum’s Folsom Tavern at 164 Water Street in Exeter.
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.
The museum is a member of the 17-member NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information about the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.
by emma | Feb 19, 2019 | Events
Linking science, technology, engineering, art and math, STEAM is an integrated educational model in today’s secondary schools that leaves out history, which presents an opportunity for cultural institutions like the American Independence Museum.
“The subject of history is not a static one,” said museum Executive Director Emma Bray. “History is a subject that itself connects to economic, geographic, cultural and civic knowledge.”
With some schools removing history from certain grades due to budgetary constraints, Bray said institutions like the museum are able to provide educational value in unexpected ways.
“We have items in our collection, research documents and historical knowledge and resources that we can utilize to enhance education in the classroom,” she said. “That is why we developed the Traveling Trunk program.”
Developed in 2016 with initial seed funding from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the program is designed for students of varying ages. Shipped in a trunk, the program contains 70+ high quality replica items and colonial history curriculum materials.
“It is hands-on, experiential education that directly reflects best practices in education today,” added Bray.
The program, however, comes with ongoing costs. The trunk is occasionally returned with some items missing and there are costs to ship it. In 2019, the trunk is expected to travel more than 15,000 miles with stops as far away as California.
“The program is supported by Service Credit Union, which has been with us since its beginning,” Bray said. “We could not offer this program at no charge to students without their support.”
Wendy Beswick, vice president of marketing at Service Credit Union, said the program is unique in that it “removes barriers.”
“We believe in the Traveling Trunk program, because it reaches many students who otherwise would not be able to access such an educational experience,” she said. “This is an investment with a great return.”
This return, said Bray, is measured by thousands of students.
“As schools continue to struggle with budgets, partnerships between the nonprofit and corporate sector–like what we have developed with Service Credit Union–are increasingly more important,” she said.
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.
The museum is a member of the 17-member NH Heritage Museum Trail, which connects the public with culturally rich heritage institutions in New Hampshire. For more information about the NH Heritage Museum Trail, visit nhmuseumtrail.org.
