Lectures
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Free Virtual Lecture: “New Hampshire's Long Love-Hate Relationship with its Agricultural Fairs,” by Steve Taylor
Wednesday, February 1, 2023, 7 p.m.
The first agricultural fair in North America was held in what is now Londonderry in 1722, and it would become a wildly popular event lasting for generations until it came to be so dominated by gambling, flim-flam, and other "scandalous dimensions" that the legislature revoked its charter in 1850. But fairs have always had strong supporters, and eventually the state came around to appropriating modest sums to help them succeed. Temperance groups and others would continue to attack the fairs on moral grounds, and their close connection to horse racing was a chronic flashpoint. Steve Taylor will discuss the ups and downs of the fairs down through years and how public affection for rural traditions helps them survive in contemporary times. This program is free and presented through the Humanities to Go program of New Hampshire Humanities. Register via Zoom.
Collections Highlights Talk: “Celebrating American Presidents,” by Sarah Galligan
Saturday, February 11, 2023, 2 p.m.
Honor New Hampshire’s connection to America’s presidents with Sarah Galligan, director of archival and library collections, as she shares some of the Society’s most notable collections related to the presidents of the United States. Admission to collection highlights talks is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members and included in the price of paid admission for nonmembers.
Lecture: “Unpacking Early Myths of Colonial New Hampshire,” by Dillon Mahoney
Saturday, February 18, 2023, 2 p.m.
Much of 17th- and 18th-century New Hampshire history is clouded by storytelling and myths, particularly in accounts of indigenous peoples and charismatic individuals like Passaconaway. Professor Dillon Mahoney contextualizes some of these early colonial myths of indigenous interactions to get to the likely truths behind the stories. Admission to this lecture is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members and included in the price of paid admission for nonmembers. No registration is required.
Free Lecture: “Covered Bridges of New Hampshire,” by Kim Varney Chandler
Saturday, March 25, 2023, 2 p.m.
New Hampshire was once home to over 300 covered bridges. Today there are over 61. Nearly 50 of them are over a century old. These bridges exist today solely because of the efforts of a small but powerful community that both recognize their significance and honor their tradition. Join author and photographer Kim Varney Chandler as she shares an overview of covered bridges in the Granite State along with interesting facts she uncovered while researching her 2022 book, Covered Bridges of New Hampshire. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. This is a free program; no registration is required.
Contact
Katie Corbett
Visitor Services Coordinator
603-856-0644
kcorbett@nhhistory.org
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