Exploring the NH Historical Society Museum
by GSA Roberta Wells,The Hotel Concord Class of 2019
Today my husband and I had the opportunity to visit the NH State Historical Society Museum in Concord as we were heading north into the lakes region. We arrived in time to join a tour already in progress with just one other couple. The volunteer docent Tom Fisk was very informative as he showed us around the main gallery pointing out several pieces of interest along with their background stories. The building itself is a work of art having been designed by the same architect who did the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and they used beautiful marble from Sienna to give the building a grand and stately elegance. It was built in 1911 as a gift from it’s benefactor Edward Tuck specifically for the Historical Society.
One of the most notable items that you see immediately as you head upstairs to the gallery is the Golden Eagle – the original that once sat atop the State House Dome. This eagle is a “war eagle” as it looks towards the left. The eagle currently atop the done is the Peace Eagle as it looks toward the right. You can find out the other differences if you go to see it yourself. You will also see one of the two original colonial flags designed by Benjamin Franklin depicting 13 interlocking rings to represent the 13 colonies. Again, you can hear the story of these flags if you visit the museum.
The building also holds a library where you can do some historical research. And a lecture room where you can attend a program on Saturday afternoon on subjects such as:
“A History of the New Hampshire Presidential Primary”
“300 Years Ago: The Scots-Irish in Provincial New Hampshire”
“Saving the Inland Waters: Citizen Action in the Granite State”
More information can be found on their website: https://www.nhhistory.org/Educate/Adult-Programs/Lectures
Anyone interested in learning more about this state we live in would enjoy a visit to this museum. And while you are there you can also walk through the halls of the State House across the street or enjoy a stroll down Concord’s vibrant Main Street.
Roberta Wells
photos include: the state house eagle, a quilt made from the ribbons off cigar boxes, and a campaign add for the 1856 Presidential Election (won by Buchanan & Breckenridge)
