Programs & Events Calendar

Spring Lecture Series: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Lecture: “Annihilating Distance: The First Century of New Hampshire Railroads, 1830 to 1930,” by Professor R. Stuart Wallace
Thursday, April 18, 2024, 6 p.m.
From the era of “railroad fever” in the 1830s to the beginning of the Great Depression in the 1930s, life in the Granite State revolved around railroads. The state’s rural and industrial economy, its tourism, its travel in general, not to mention its immigration, town life, taxes, and politics relied in some way on railroads. Join Professor R. Stuart Wallace for the story of New Hampshire’s railroads during their golden age. The series is offered both in-person and virtually and is sponsored by Grappone Automotive Group and Sanel NAPA. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; nonmembers are invited to join the Society to enjoy this and other membership benefits. Advance registration is required for everyone (whether in-person or virtual). Members will receive a brochure in the mail with registration information or can register online through Eventbrite.

American Revolution Summit
Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The New Hampshire Historical Society and New Hampshire Humanities invite representatives from museums, cultural organizations, and local historical societies around the state to join us for a summit on the upcoming 250th celebration of the American Revolution. Find out what the state commission and other organizations in New Hampshire have planned, learn about potential grant opportunities, and share ideas with your colleagues. This is an in-person event, and we ask that no more than 2 people attend per organization. There is no charge for this summit. Registration deadline is Monday, April 22. Register through Eventbrite.

Spring Lecture Series: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Lecture: “The Road More Traveled: How the Automobile Changed New Hampshire,” by Amanda Grappone Osmer
Thursday, April 25, 2024, 6 p.m.
Automobiles transformed New Hampshire. Cars made tourists more independent and likely to travel off the beaten path. Roadside motels, restaurants, stores, and gas stations emerged to accommodate these visitors. The automobile also changed the way people lived, bringing new road systems, the rise of suburbs, and different ways of doing just about everything. Amanda Grappone Osmer traces how cars transformed the Granite State. The series is offered both in-person and virtually and is sponsored by Grappone Automotive Group and Sanel NAPA. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; nonmembers are invited to join the Society to enjoy this and other membership benefits. Advance registration is required for everyone (whether in-person or virtual). Members will receive a brochure in the mail with registration information or can register online through Eventbrite.

New Hampshire Clocks and Clockmakers -- THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
Friday, April 26, 2024, 5 to 7 p.m.
New Hampshire craftsmen have a long tradition of clockmaking, dating back three centuries. Three speakers will offer different perspectives on this important aspect of New England’s history: John Delaney (of Delaney Antique Clocks and PBS Antiques Roadshow), John Fitzwilliam (clock restorer, collector, and dealer), and clock scholar Damon DiMauro (professor at Gordon College). A small number of clocks from the New Hampshire Historical Society’s extensive collection, donated by Charles Parsons, will be on display at the event. This program is part of the New England regional meeting of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC). This event is sold out. 

Book Talk: Northern Voices *FREE*
Saturday, April 27, 2024, 2 p.m.
Mike Pride’s ninth and final book, Northern Voices, is fresh off the presses, published a year after Pride’s death last April. It tells the story of Pride's relationships with eight distinguished poets he covered in the pages of the Concord Monitor and the ways in which New Hampshire’s natural beauty and hard realities shaped these poets’ lives and work. Pride’s friend and longtime colleague, Mark Travis, saw the book through to publication on Pride’s behalf. Join Travis as he talks about Pride’s last project and the world of words it reveals. Copies of Pride’s book will be available for purchase. This is a free program; no registration required.

Spring Lecture Series: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Lecture: “The Boston & Maine Railroad in New Hampshire, 1945 to 1983,” by Rick Kfoury
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6 p.m.
Although the Boston & Maine Railroad’s presence in New Hampshire began to wane in the years following World War II, its daily operations still held great importance for Granite Staters. Rick Kfoury, president of the Boston & Maine Historical Society, shares stories, images, film, and documents—some of them never before seen publicly—of the B&M’s freight and passenger operations in New Hampshire in the mid-20th century. The series is offered both in-person and virtually lectures and is sponsored by Grappone Automotive Group and Sanel NAPA. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; nonmembers are invited to join the Society to enjoy this and other membership benefits. Advance registration is required for everyone (whether in-person or virtual). Members will receive a brochure in the mail with registration information or can register online through Eventbrite.

Lecture: “Teddy Roosevelt’s Nobel Prize,” by Charles Doleac
Saturday, May 4, 2024, 2 p.m. 
In August 1905, diplomats from Russia and Japan met in Portsmouth to negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese War, which had been raging in the Far East for more than a year. Although few might remember this war today, it foreshadowed in many ways the modern warfare that came to characterize the 20th century. President Theodore Roosevelt orchestrated the talks that led to the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his involvement. Join Chuck Doleac, the founder of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum, to learn about this fascinating chapter in international diplomacy and the role New Hampshire played. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; $7 for nonmembers. No registration required.

Spring Lecture Series: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Lecture: “The Golden Age of Airline Service in the Granite State,” by Jeff Rapsis
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 6 p.m.
The years following World War II saw a rapid increase in air passenger service throughout the nation, with New Hampshire being no exception. Communities like Keene, Berlin, Concord, and Laconia enjoyed scheduled passenger flights to Boston, New York, and beyond. Join Jeff Rapsis, executive director of the New Hampshire Aviation Museum, to explore this period in the mid-20th century when the Granite State enjoyed a Golden Age of air passenger service that connected New Hampshire’s small towns to the nation's air transportation system. The series is offered both in-person and virtually and is sponsored by Grappone Automotive Group and Sanel NAPA. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; nonmembers are invited to join the Society to enjoy this and other membership benefits. Advance registration is required for everyone (whether in-person or virtual). Members will receive a brochure in the mail with registration information or can register online through Eventbrite.

Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 8, 2024
Save the date for the New Hampshire Historical Society's annual meeting. An invitation will be sent by mail to each Society member in May.

Introduction to “Moose on the Loose”
Thursday, August 1, 2024, 9 to 11 a.m. (virtual only)
Get a crash course on the state social studies curriculum, "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids," which is being adopted by schools all over New Hampshire. Developed by the New Hampshire Historical Society for upper elementary and middle school students and educators, this resource provides what you’ll need to introduce students to state history, civics, geography, and economics. Structured in 18 units that cover everything from the ice age to the present, the “Moose” includes lesson plans, explainer videos, inquiry resources, curated primary source sets, and fun, easy ways to work with primary and secondary sources. Plus, it’s all available free of charge on an open-access site. No passwords or access codes required! "Moose on the Loose" integrates high-quality social studies instruction with English language arts, math, and science. Register for this virtual workshop through Eventbrite.

Civics and “Moose on the Loose”
Friday, August 2, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (virtual)
Monday, August 5, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person)
In this workshop, we will focus on the foundational civics instruction offered in New Hampshire’s statewide social studies curriculum, "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids." Developed by the New Hampshire Historical Society for students and educators in grades 3–8, this resource provides everything you’ll need to introduce your students to the ideas that underlay our system of government and the structures and practices Americans have established for self-governance. The “Moose” includes lesson plans, explainer videos, inquiry resources, curated primary source sets, and fun, easy ways to work with primary and secondary sources. Familiarity with navigating the “Moose on the Loose” curriculum from a prior training will be vital in this workshop. Participants interested in learning more about this high-quality state social studies curriculum created by the New Hampshire Historical Society are encouraged to attend the virtual workshop, Introduction to “Moose on the Loose,” on August 1. Attendees will receive a $50 Target gift card and CEU credits. In-person attendees will receive breakfast and lunch. These workshops have been possible, in part, by a justice grant from the New Hampshire Bar Foundation.

Register for the virtual workshop through Eventbrite here.
Register for the in-person workshop through Eventbrite here.

New Hampshire History Institute
Wednesday to Friday, August 7–9, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person only)
Learn more about the state you love! The New Hampshire Historical Society presents the New Hampshire History Institute for elementary and middle school educators. This boot camp in New Hampshire history will include sessions on the Abenaki, early colonial settlement, American Revolution, tourism, immigration, and civics; age-appropriate social studies and ELA methodology; and will include explore lessons from "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids." Familiarity with the “Moose on the Loose” curriculum from a prior training will be vital in this workshop. Participants interested in learning more about this high-quality state social studies curriculum created by the New Hampshire Historical Society are encouraged to attend the virtual workshop, Introduction to “Moose on the Loose,” on August 1. Breakfast and lunch are included. Attendees will receive a $200 Target gift card and CEU credits for the three-day workshop. Register through Eventbrite.

The American Revolution for Educators
Monday and Tuesday, August 12–13, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person only)
The New Hampshire Historical Society presents a professional development opportunity focusing on New Hampshire and the American Revolution, a two-day workshop for elementary and middle school educators in preparation for the Revolution 250 anniversary coming up in 2026. Refresh your knowledge of the American Revolution and learn about New Hampshire's role in it, all while exploring ready-made lesson plans, projects, and activities you can introduce to your students in the coming school year. The workshop explores lessons from "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids," especially Unit 5: New Hampshire and the American Revolution. We will also discuss plans for the state and national celebrations for the Revolution 250 anniversary and the New Hampshire Historical Society’s American Revolution-themed “603 History Hunt,” a family-friendly statewide scavenger hunt. Familiarity with the “Moose on the Loose” curriculum from a prior training will be vital in this workshop. Participants interested in learning more about this high-quality state social studies curriculum created by the New Hampshire Historical Society are encouraged to attend the virtual workshop, Introduction to “Moose on the Loose,” on August 1. Breakfast and lunch are included. Attendees will receive a $100 Target gift card and CEU credits for the two-day workshop. Register through Eventbrite.