tavern - American Independence Museum

Architecture Tour

by ion | Oct 21, 2021

Architectural Tour Highlight of the main bannister, wooden railing with many spindles.

$5 AIM Members
$10 Not yet members

Stop by for a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the Ladd-Gilman House and Folsom Tavern! Learn about the evolution of the buildings, decorative styles, and architectural features that make them unique. Put your thinking cap on while you look for clues around the rooms, closets and attics. Tours will take place on Fridays at 12:30 and 2 p.m. and last approximately 90 minutes. They will depart from the Ladd-Gilman House. Tours are limited to 6 people, pre-registration is encouraged, masks required.

Note: Due to the historic nature of our buildings, they are not handicap accessible. This tour will include many areas of the buildings not typically open to the public. Guests should be comfortable navigating uneven floors, steep staircases, low ceilings and the occasional spider web.

Virtual Holiday Tea

by ion | Oct 21, 2021

Two tables decorated for a winter holiday event.

Members
$8 Adult
$3 Child
Not Yet Members
$10 Adult
$5 Child
All children under 6 free

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Raise your cups, of tea that is, as your friends and loved ones come together for our virtual holiday tea. Enjoy some colonial music (singing along is encouraged), learn about colonial tea etiquette and 18th century foodways, then break off into your own ‘room’ to enjoy time socializing with friends and family. Each participant will receive several colonial recipes suited for a tea, their own 1/2 oz package of tea from Alchemy & Herbs, and a colonial zoom background. A great way to share the joy of the season!

*Tea pick up can be arranged at the museum or can be shipped for $3. Liberty Tea, herbal decaffeinated blend.

Spirits of the Past Explores Spooky Museum History

by ion | Oct 18, 2021 | For Adults, Programming

On Thursday, October 28, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., on the Folsom Tavern Lawn, the American Independence Museum will host Spirits of the Past, which focuses on the 19th century Spiritualist movement.

While its main focus is the connection between Spiritualism and the museum’s nearly 240 year-old Folsom Tavern, the program will also provide insight into the movement’s ties to America’s founding principles on freedom of religion. April Sheerin, Church of Spiritual Life member, medium, and Director of New Awakenings, will be on-site to share perspectives on Spiritualism today and offer mediumship demonstrations.

“We are so excited to have April facilitate this program in partnership with us,” said the museum’s Sarah Jaworski. “This is a chance to learn more about American history in a way that really will get people thinking.”

Spirits of the Past will take place on the lawn outside Folsom Tavern, 164 Water St., Exeter, NH from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15 for non-members and $10 for members with light refreshments provided. To learn more about this program, or to purchase tickets, https://www.independencemuseum.org/AIMstaging/event/spirits-of-the-past/

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.

Spirits of the Past

by ion | Oct 13, 2021

$15 Non-members
$10 Members

Purchase Tickets

Join us for an evening around the fire on the lawn of the Folsom Tavern as we explore the spiritualist movement in the 19th century and its ties to America’s founding principles on freedom of religion, as well as to a former tenant of our Folsom Tavern, who was a spiritualist conducting ‘demonstrations’ from the building in the 19th century.

April Sheerin, Church of Spiritual Life member, medium, and Director of New Awakenings, will be on-site to share perspectives on Spiritualism today and offer mediumship demonstrations.

Light refreshments will be available as well.

Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery Tours

by ion | Oct 10, 2021 | Events, Family Friendly, Programming, Tours

On Saturday, October 23, the American Independence Museum will host Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery, a popular family-friendly event that takes visitors on a tour through history.

“Our colonial guide meets you at Winter Street Cemetery and walks you through it while showing you the graves of some of Exeter’s most famous and infamous revolutionary residents,” said the museum’s Sarah Jaworski.

Primarily used from the 1740’s to 1870’s, Winter Street Cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent members of Exeter, including governors, Revolutionary and Civil War veterans, politicians and others.

Ghosts of Winter Street Cemetery takes place every 30 minutes, 4:00 p.m. through 5:30 p.m., at Winter Street Cemetery on Saturday, October 23. There is a 3 p.m. tour designed especially for families with elementary school aged children, who are invited to wear their Halloween costume while discovering stories of the past and tasting a colonial treat.

All tours will last approximately 45 minutes with guests encouraged to bring flashlights for the last two tours. The cost is $10 for non-members and $7 for non-member children, ages 6-18. Members are $5 and members’ children, ages 6-18, are $3. All children under 6 are free.

Ticket price includes the cemetery tour and a return pass to visit the museum. Click here to purchase tickets.

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.