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.

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New Hampshire Historical Society

30 Park St

Concord, NH 03301

Admission

Admission to the New Hampshire Historical Society's research library is $7 for adults. Children 18 and under and members of the New Hampshire Historical Society are admitted free of charge. Full-time students and active military personnel and their families also are admitted free of charge with a valid ID.

Mask Policy

Masks fully covering the mouth and nose are to be worn by all visitors and staff in public spaces at the New Hampshire Historical Society. While recent progress with vaccinations is very encouraging, no one can tell who is and who isn’t vaccinated. Our priority is to have a policy that promotes the health and safety of everyone— visitors and staff—at the Society. The Society welcomes families with young children, and we know that only a very small percentage of children under 18 have been vaccinated. We also welcome all adults, including those who may not be able to be vaccinated due to a compromised immune system. In order to accommodate all individuals, young or older, we will continue to adhere to our existing mask policy until further notice.

Group Tours
Guided group tours are available by advance reservation for groups of 12 or more. Guided school and youth group tours also are available. Visit our school programs page for details. For more information, and to arrange your visit, contact the education department at 603-856-0645.

Blue Star Museums
The New Hampshire Historical Society is a member of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s service members, including National Guard and Reserve, and their families. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families.

Directions/Transportation/Parking

New Hampshire Historical Society
30 Park Street, Concord, NH 03301

Take Interstate 93 to Exit 14. Northbound—turn left at the light at the end of the exit ramp; Southbound—turn right at the light at the end of the exit ramp. Move into the left lane in order to take a left onto North Main Street. Take the next right onto Park Street (a one-way street that goes up the right side of the State House). At the stop sign, continue straight; the New Hampshire Historical Society is the granite building on the right. Metered parking is available on surrounding streets and in downtown Concord's public parking garages.

For more information

Website : http://www.nhhistory.org

Email : info@nhhistory.org

Phone : 603-228-6688

Facebook : nhhistory