by rob | Nov 28, 2017 | Events, Uncategorized
As part of Exeter’s Ring in the Season events, the American Independence Museum (AIM) in Exeter will celebrate the holidays from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday, December 1 with its annual Holiday Celebration, presented by The Provident Bank.
At the event, visitors can toast the holidays with light refreshments, create Colonial holiday gifts, enjoy seasonal music, and visit their pop-up gift shop. The event will also feature a silent auction with numerous items up for bid, including a vacation and brewery tour package at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, VT.
Folsom Tavern will be open for public tours Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm with refreshments available at Folsom Tavern from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Saturday for purchase for those watching the town’s Holiday Parade.
On Sunday, December 3, the tavern will be open from 1 pm to 5 pm as part of Womenade of Greater Squamscott’s Exeter Area Holiday Home Tour with tickets available through Womenade.
“This is the first year we’re taking full advantage of the Town of Exeter’s wonderful ‘Ring in the Season’ events that take place November 30 to December 3,” said Museum Executive Director Emma Bray. “We are looking forward to an exciting weekend.”
In addition to their annual holiday celebration on Friday, this is the first year the museum will serve refreshments during the holiday parade on Saturday and participate in Womenade’s Holiday Home Tour on Sunday.
Bray also expressed excitement that their Folsom Tavern is professionally decorated for the holidays this year.
“Our friends at The Willow across the street are decorating the tavern with financial support from The Provident Bank enabling us to host an expanded year-end celebration,” she added. “2017 was a wonderful year for us, so this is a fitting end to our season.”
Admission to Friday’s event is free for members, $5 for non-members, and $3 for non-member children.
by rob | Nov 17, 2017 | Events, Partnerships
In celebration of Small Business Saturday on November 25, the American Independence Museum will offer a 10% discount on all items in its gift shop, excluding consignment, with 20% off for members and business partners.
In extending a discount to business partners, museum Executive Director Emma Bray said she wanted to extend her gratitude to the businesses, many of whom are small to medium sized, that help support their mission.
“Small Business Saturday is a great concept—and we are all about local,” she said. “We have dozens of items—jewelry, soaps, teas and more—and they are all locally made in New Hampshire. Our gift shop has terrific holiday gift items.”
For Attorney John Sherman of Sherman Law, which recently signed on as a business partner, supporting the American Independence Museum makes sense.
“Local museums make an incredible impact on the community,” he said. “They provide a sense of social purpose, educate the public, and inspire diverse interests. Without local centers like the American Independence Museum, our Seacoast community’s identity just would not be the same.”
Having recently joined the museum as executive director earlier this year, Bray said she is encouraged at the new partnerships they have forged this year with area small businesses and hopes to attract others.
“Aside from preserving historical documents, the museum is committed to working with local partners to increase the visibility and vibrancy of Exeter,” she said. “I appreciate this town so much, I just bought my first home here with my husband. There is so much potential with this town and museum.”
On November 25, the Museum’s gift shop will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. It is located inside the museum’s Ladd-Gilman House, One Governor’s Lane in downtown Exeter.
by rob | Nov 14, 2017 | Events
On Thursday, November 16 from 7 pm to 8 pm, UNH Professor Vanessa Druskat will present “Your Most Important Role in a Democracy: Thinking for Yourself” at the American Independence Museum’s Folsom Tavern. The lecture is the last in the museum’s 2017 Educational Lecture Series, which was presented in partnership with People’s United Bank.
In this lecture, Druskat will discuss numerous aspects related to the concept of democracy as well as how the ideal democratic system is often (and easily) influenced by forces and tactics that manipulate and alter the thinking of voters.
“This is a timely lecture that will explore propaganda and advertising and their roles today in current politics, which is also the subject of an exhibit here that runs through this month,” said museum Executive Director Emma Bray.
At the end of the lecture, a question and answer session will take place.
“We are so grateful to People’s United Bank for presenting this series and enabling us to offer each lecture at no charge to guests,” added Bray. “We hope people will join us for this interesting and free community event.”
Due to limited space, email [email protected] to pre-register for a seat, although pre-registration is not required. There is no cost to attend these lectures, which take place at Folsom Tavern, 164 Water Street in Exeter, NH.
by rob | Oct 31, 2017 | story time
On Thursday, November 2 from 9:30 am to 12 noon, the American Independence Museum in Exeter will host the final Revolutionary Story Time session for preschool age children in 2017.
Begun in May, the series is sponsored by Exeter Hospital. Taking place at the museum’s 1775 Folsom Tavern, Thursday’s program will include 90 minutes of playtime, crafts, colonial games, and opportunities to try on colonial outfits. Previous to playtime, a costumed re-enactor will tell stories and possibly sing colonial-themed music.
“It’s a fun way to invite the community to our beautiful property and have a little fun with history, too,” said the museum’s Victoria Su, who organized the series. “We are thankful at Exeter Hospital’s support of this year’s first Revolutionary Story Time series and look forward to offering more events like this in the future.”
Home to a world-class collection, including an original and rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, the museum welcomes more than 5,500 visitors annually.
To register for Revolutionary Story Time on Thursday, November 2 from 9:30 to 12 noon at Folsom Tavern, 164 Water Street in Exeter, email [email protected].
Reservations are suggested for this free program, although donations will be gladly accepted with proceeds to benefit the museum. Due to the historic nature of the tavern, strollers are not allowed.
by rob | Oct 30, 2017 | Partnerships
Presented by People’s United Bank, the American Independence Museum’s Educational Lecture series continues in the coming weeks with two exciting free talks.
At the museum’s next Lunch and Learn, “Secrets of the American Independence Museum: Collection Close-Up,” on Tuesday, November 7 at Folsom Tavern, Museum Curator Rachel Passannante will discuss their vast collection.
“We have over 3,000 artifacts and objects here with many of them not part of our regular exhibits,” she said. “This is a chance to learn more about some of our most interesting items and the stories behind them.”
“Secrets of the American Independence Museum: Collection Close-Up” will take place at the museum’s Folsom Tavern in Exeter on November 7 from 12 noon to 1 pm with attendees encouraged to bring their lunch.
On Thursday, November 16 from 7 pm to 8 pm at Folsom Tavern, the museum will host a Tavern Talk entitled “Your Most Important Role in a Democracy: Thinking for Yourself” with UNH Professor Vanessa Druscat. At this talk, she will discuss the nature of democracy as well as the notion that social science demonstrates that majorities make better decisions than those made by individuals.
Expressing appreciation at presenting sponsor People’s United Bank, which has participated in several previous lectures, museum Executive Director said these talks are aimed at laypeople with an interest in history.
“These talks are for everyone,” she said. “They are informative and fun. They represent our way to engage the community with history in creative ways.”
Due to limited space, email [email protected] to pre-register for a seat, although pre-registration is not required. There is no cost to attend these lectures. To learn more about the museum, visit www.independencemuseum.org.
