Lectures
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Saturday, January 19, 2019, 2 p.m.
New Hampshire Heritage Lecture Series: The Story of the Libby Museum
A dentist, inventor, sculptor, poet, politician, and scientist, Dr. Henry Forrest Libby opened a museum in 1912 to display his large personal collection of natural history relics. Nestled between Mirror Lake and Lake Winnipesaukee, the museum was the lifelong dream of this remarkably eclectic man. After spending much of his adult life in dentistry, first as an itinerant dentist and then in a practice in Boston, Libby returned to his native Lakes Region when he was in his forties, determined to pursue his interest in the natural world. His accomplishments included the creation of calcined gypsum, a substance that was critical in preserving the specimens he had found. He later patented his discovery. Join Alana Albee, director of the Libby Museum and distant relation of Dr. Libby’s, to learn more about the story behind the Libby Museum of Wolfeboro.The New Hampshire Heritage Lecture Series highlights the stories behind the state’s many historic and cultural attractions.This program is included in the price of admission to the Society; New Hampshire Historical Society members are admitted for free.
Saturday, February 9, 2019, 1 p.m.
Curator's Tour: Signs of the Times
Join Director of Collections and Exhibitions Wes Balla on a guided tour of the Society’s new exhibition, Signs of the Times. The tour is included in the price of admission to the Society; New Hampshire Historical Society members are admitted for free.
Saturday, February 16, 2019, 2 p.m.
Lecture: Railroads and the Rise and Fall of the White Mountain Hotels, 1850–1960
The development of railroads in the White Mountain region of New Hampshire in the mid-19th century encouraged the growth of a string of grand hotels, promising recreational activities, clean fresh air, and dramatic mountain views—all of which drew travelers from near and far. For many decades this symbiotic relationship between the railroads and the hotels was a powerful economic, social, and cultural force in the region, until it was undermined, as quickly as it had developed, by a new and powerful force in American life: the automobile. Architect and transportation historian Frank J. “Jay” Barrett Jr. gives an overview of the related development of railroads and grand hotels in the White Mountains, and how the automobile age changed them both. This program is included in the price of admission to the Society; New Hampshire Historical Society members are admitted for free.
Saturday, March 16, 2019, 2 p.m.
New Hampshire Heritage Lecture Series: Preserving the Golden Age of Boats
With nearly 1,000 lakes within its borders, New Hampshire has a strong connection to boats, whether used for fishing, transportation, sport, or recreation. Native Americans and early colonists relied on canoes and plank boats, while Granite Staters in the 19th century took to steam and sail to navigate the lakes that dot the landscape. Many villages and towns were even oriented toward lakefronts for the convenience of boaters and fishermen, particularly after New Hampshire became a summer tourist destination. The advent of automobiles in the 20th century brought even more vacationers to New Hampshire’s waterways, leading to a golden age of hand-crafted, wooden boats built with elegance and equipped with engines that promised speed and maneuverability. Join Martha Cummings, executive director of the New Hampshire Boat Museum, to learn about the Granite State’s boating culture and the effort to preserve it on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. The New Hampshire Heritage Lecture Series highlights the stories behind the state’s many historic and cultural attractions.This program is included in the price of admission to the Society; New Hampshire Historical Society members are admitted for free.
Contact
Christopher Moore
Visitor Services Coordinator
603-228-6688
cmorse@nhhistory.org
Contact