Blog: Exploring the NH Heritage Museum Trail – Manchester

by: Sarah Brown, GSA Comfort Inn Concord, Class of 2011

As an avid history buff, I was excited about the new GSA perk of free admission to the 15 museums that are included in the Heritage Museum Trail. Since it’s admission for two, I am taking my husband along as I visit as many as I can this year. I let my husband choose our first excursion so we headed to Manchester last Friday to explore the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry) and the Millyard Museum (200 Bedford Street, Manchester).

I wasn’t so sure that I would find the Aviation Museum as interesting as he would, but I was pleasantly surprised that there was a lot there that I enjoyed. The museum is located in an Art Deco former terminal on the east side of the north/south runway at the airport. There are bright murals on the walls as you enter that highlight early aviation pioneers in New Hampshire. Displays of model aircraft, an early wood and canvas plane, simulators to try, and lots of other fascinating pieces of engines offer something to catch everyone’s attention. We spent over an hour there and didn’t read everything or try all the various simulators. A small gift shop has interesting books on Manchester and aviation. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, check their website for times and special events. Free parking.

My choice for the day was the Millyard Museum. Although I had been before, there is so much there that you need to go multiple times to absorb it all. Displays and artifacts begin with Native American settlement 11,000 years ago, to colonial white settlement, to the establishment of the Amoskeg Mill complex. The museum in housed in Mill #3 and architectural remnants of an operating mill remain to marvel at. The museum also has sections that feature the people of the mills from owner to lowly worker and both their working and social lives. Did you know that the Amoskeg Mills made a significant contribution to the Civil War? You’ll have to visit to find out how. Plan at least an hour for your first visit. Check their website for times and special exhibits. We used metered parking since their free lot was full.

After all that mental stimulation we needed refueling so we had lunch at 900 Degrees (50 Dow Street, Manchester, entrance to the restaurant is just before the light at Dow and Canal going north, in the back) If you like brick oven thin crust pizza, this is the place for you. They also have a good selection of
beers on tap. Free parking.

We’ll be heading out soon to check out more museums and I’ll provide another installment of our journey.

Photos courtesy of Aviation Museum & Millyard Museum