New Hampshire Historical Society

We love New Hampshire. And, we've been saving its history for nearly two centuries.

Since 1823 the New Hampshire Historical Society has been preserving our state's past and telling its stories to each generation. Nowhere will you find a more extensive collection of objects and archives related to New Hampshire's history.

Each year the Society uses its vast collection to serve thousands of members and visitors through our research library, museum, exhibitions, publications, and public programs. And, our school programs touch the lives of children from virtually every community across the state.

The Society is an independent, nonprofit organization, not a state-funded agency. All of our work to save, preserve, and share New Hampshire's past depends on membership dues and contributions from people like you.

To our members, we say thank you. And, to all others who share our love of New Hampshire, we invite you to discover us today!

Mission

The New Hampshire Historical Society's mission is to educate a diverse public about the significance of New Hampshire's past and its relationship to our lives today. In support of this mission, the Society collects, preserves, and interprets materials pertaining to New Hampshire history.

Collections

The Society is the state's premier organization collecting, preserving, and sharing Granite State history. Its museum and library offer the most extensive collection of resources and materials related to New Hampshire history that can be found anywhere.

For close to two centuries, the Society has gathered objects, books, manuscripts, and images that tell New Hampshire's story. The collections include 33,000 museum objects, 50,000 printed volumes, 2 million pages of manuscripts, 800,000 pages of newspapers, 250,000 photographic images, 15,000 broadsides and ephemera items. Ranging in date from pre-contact to the present day, the Society's holdings reflect broadly the state's economic, political, social, and cultural history.

Research Services

The New Hampshire Historical Society's staff would be happy to assist you in general research on New Hampshire history and genealogy using sources found in our library or museum. Research services can be ordered online and by telephone or mail. For details see the Research Services page or call the library reference staff at 603-856-0641.

Facilities

The Society owns two historic properties in Concord, New Hampshire's capital city: (1) our 1911 headquarters building at 30 Park Street where we offer our exhibitions, educational programs, and library research services; and (2) our mid-19th-century building at 6 Eagle Square--the Hamel Center--previously serving as the Society's museum from 1995 to 2014 and now our collections management center.

Exhibitions

The Society offers changing exhibitions on a variety of topics and long-term display of selected objects including paintings, New Hampshire-made furniture, the original eagle from the New Hampshire State House, and Revolutionary War flags.

Education

The Society provides a variety of educational programs including on-site school tours, outreach programs to classrooms across the state, virtual field trips, and workshops, lectures, courses, and technical workshops for local historical societies and libraries. The Society published the state's first-ever New Hampshire history curriculum for grades K-12 and is currently completing “Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids,” a free online state social studies resource for educators, students, and families.

Publications

The Society's publishes a semi-annual journal, Historical New Hampshire, and a quarterly newsletter featuring information on the Society's collections, programs, and activities. These publications are two of the many benefits of membership in the Society. Additional special publications include exhibition catalogs, gallery brochures, and school activity guides. The Society's publications have received awards from the American Association for State and Local History.

Governing Board and Staff

The Society is governed by a 18-member Board of Trustees. The Society employs 13 full-time and 25 part-time staff, assisted by 80 volunteers.

Fellowships

Along with 18 other cultural organizations, the New Hampshire Historical Society is a member of the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium, which offers grants for projects that draw on the collections and resources of the collaborating organizations.

Join Us!

All of the New Hampshire Historical Society's programs and services are made possible by membership dues and contributions from individuals, foundations, and businesses. You are invited to join today and enjoy the many benefits membership provides. Call the membership department at 603-856-0621 or use our convenient and secure online membership form.

Accreditation

The New Hampshire Historical Society is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and its facilities are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Library open by appointment Thursday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.