Concord Museums

(Concord, New Hampshire - NH, USA)



For visitors on a quest to find out more about the history of both New Hampshire and its capital city, Concord, there are a number of interesting museums to be found here.

Located close to the Capitol Shopping Center, the John Stark Statue and the State House Plaza, the New Hampshire Historical Society resides on Eagle Square, just off the Franklin Pierce Highway. This important local institution was founded as far back as 1823 and came into being to preserve the past and educate the public about the rich heritage of New Hampshire.

Further offerings of a similar nature in Concord include the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House (Longyear Museum), while the NH Audubon's McLane Center is more geared towards nature and the environment. If you are happy to head a little outside of the city's boundaries, then the Canterbury Shaker Village certainly comes highly recommended, as does the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum, Education and Cultural Center in nearby Warner.


New Hampshire Historical Society

Address: 6 Eagle Square, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Tel: + 1 603 228 6688
On exhibit at the New Hampshire Historical Society are a series of extensive collections, with literally thousands of artifacts, past publications, old photographs, lithographic prints and paintings, along with period furnishings, antiques, silver spoons, flags from the American Revolutionary War (1775 to 1783) and a well-stocked library, where temporary displays are staged in a dedicated gallery area. Workshops, demonstrations and guided tours are also available at times.
Open hours: November and January to June, Tuesday to Saturday - 09:30 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00; December and July to October - Monday to Saturday - 09:30 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children, children five years old and under are free

Canterbury Shaker Village

Address: 288 Shaker Road, Canterbury, New Hampshire (NH), 03224, USA
Tel: +1 603 783 9511
The Canterbury Shaker Village is to be found in the neighboring town of Canterbury, roughly 25 minutes to the north of Concord and reached by following Interstate I-393 and the Rocky Pond Road (US-106), which leads to Shaker Road. This open-air museum-type attraction was established at the very end of the 18th century and quickly grew to become a thriving Shaker community numbering more than 300 people. The village was opened as a not-for-profit attraction in 1969 and some 25 of the original buildings remain. There are also various reconstructions of everyday life, woodland areas, mill ponds and related Shaker relics. Covering more than 700 acres / 285 hectares, the village educates its visitors about the lifestyle and values of the Canterbury Shakers. There are always plenty of volunteers on hand to answer your questions, while a restaurant serves up traditional Shaker-style lunches for those with an appetite.
Open hours: May to October, daily - 10:00 to 17:00; early December, daily - 15:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children, children five years old and under are free

NH Audubon's McLane Center

Address: 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Tel: +1 603 224 9909
Situated on the southwestern side of Concord and next to Turkey Pond, the Susan N. McLane Center at the New Hampshire Audubon was previously referred to as the Silk Farm Center. The center is the place to come if you are interested in nature and all things environmental, with literally miles of nature trails being accompanied by a selection of interesting and often unexpected exhibits. These include a number of birds of prey, such as a bald eagle, hawks, owls and a peregrine falcon. There are also picnic tables and a nature-themed shop selling bird feeders, books, clothing, handmade jewelry and lots of locally sourced gifts.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free, donations suggested

Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum, Education and Cultural Center

Address: 18 Highlawn Road, Warner, New Hampshire (NH), 03278, USA
Tel: +1 603 456 2600
The small town of Warner is a little under 30 minutes away from Concord, to the northwest, being reached via Interstate I-89. It is here where you will find the Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum (MKIM), which celebrates the 20,000 years of Native American culture. The museum was founded in the early 1990s and features a host of educational exhibits relating to Indian tribes and their customs, together with a wooden canoe, historic examples of Native American pottery and various art works. There are also some teepees, which will be sure to inspire the minds of playful children, as well as extensive landscaped grounds.
Open hours: May to October, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00; November to early December, Saturday and Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Winter tours by appointment, January to April, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for seniors and children, children five years old and under, Native Americans and Members are free

Mary Baker Eddy Historic House - Longyear Museum

Address: 62 North State Street, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Tel: +1 603 225 3444
Standing on the corner of Court Street and North State Street is the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House. Mary is remembered as being the founder of Christian Science in 1879 and she rented this impressive house between the years 1889 and 1891. It now belongs to the Longyear Museum, after being donated in 1985, and following a major restoration project boasts crisp Greek Revival architecture and many authentic Victorian features. The rooms are furnished with elegant antiquities, books, ceramics, framed photographs and other objects from the period, and include a parlor with a table set for tea. Upstairs, the Pleasant View exhibit has a scale model of Mary's next home on Pleasant Street, on the city's outskirts, which is sadly no longer in existence.
Open hours: May to October, Monday, Thursday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 16:00, or by appointment
Admission: donations suggested, children 12 years old and under are free