von Trapp Brewing Kicks off Beer for History

von Trapp Brewing Kicks off Beer for History

by | Sep 18, 2023 | Beer for History, Events, Family Friendly, Partnerships, Programming

Based in Stowe, VT, von Trapp Brewing will kick off Beer for History on Thursday, October 5 at Folsom Tavern (c. 1775) on the campus of the American Independence Museum (AIM) in downtown Exeter, NH.

Presented by Donahue Tucker & Ciandella, Beer for History is family-friendly and features music, trivia, and/or colonial tavern games with seating available both inside and outside the tavern. “It’s a wonderful way to experience history in a fun way that brings people of all ages together,” noted Jennifer Carr, AIM executive director.

Having previously participated in Beer for History on multiple occasions, von Trapp Brewing will pour three of their beers. These beers include Bohemian Pilsner, their award-winning interpretation of a Bohemian Style Pilsner, and Dunkel, the original dark lager of Munich and the first beer “style” born out of the German Beer Purity Law. von Trapp Brewing will also pour Stowe Style Festbier, their collaboration with Narragansett Brewing Company of Providence, Rhode Island, which represents the next offering in the Stowe Style series.

“We are thrilled to welcome von Trapp Brewing back to Beer for History,” added Carr. “Our shared love of history is what keeps our partnership going.”

Tickets for Beer for History events are $10, while youth (under 21) are free. Beer for History with von Trapp Brewing takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 5 at the American Independence Museum’s Folsom Tavern, 164 Water St., Exeter, NH.

Ticket prices include beer (21+), Escape Room, and light snacks. To purchase tickets, click the button below.

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About American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

American Independence Museum to Host Constitution Comic Workshops

American Independence Museum to Host Constitution Comic Workshops

by | Sep 7, 2023 | Events, Family Friendly, Free, Programming, We Are One

On Saturday, September 16, the American Independence Museum (AIM) will host a series of free Constitution Comic Workshops designed for educators and families.

The workshops begin at 10:00 a.m. for educators where well-known NH-based cartoonist Marek Bennett will instruct participants on how to integrate the use of comic making into the classroom to explore primary sources. Educators will receive 1 CEU for attendance.

At 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., participants will instruct families and kids (ages 7+) on basic techniques of cartooning. “It will be fun and free,” said AIM Executive Director Jennifer Carr.

The workshops represent AIM’s Building Community initiative, part of the museum’s ongoing We Are One campaign. “All voices, all perspectives matter, and everyone is welcome here—this is our core organizational message,” added Carr.

Home to a world-class collection of 3,000 historic artifacts, the American Independence Museum develops programs, events, and exhibits that honor and invite inclusive and diverse perspectives.

AIM’s Constitution Comic Workshops take place on Saturday, September 16 at 10:00 a.m. for educators and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for families and children. Space is limited and pre-registration is encouraged.

Preregister

About American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

American Independence Museum Launches Escape Room Team Building Program

American Independence Museum Launches Escape Room Team Building Program

by | Aug 3, 2023 | Events, For Adults, Partnerships, Programming

According to research, escape rooms are not only effective for team building but fun, findings that have helped inform the American Independence Museum’s recently launched Escape Room Team Building Program.

“We have the perfect space for an escape room experience, too,” said the museum’s Executive Director Jennifer Carr, citing Folsom Tavern as backdrop to their program.

Folsom Tavern, built in 1775 by Samuel Folsom and visited by George Washington in 1789, was the site of the formation of the New Hampshire chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati in 1783.

Founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served together in the American Revolution, the Society owns both Folsom Tavern and Ladd-Gilman House (c. 1721) as well as AIM’s collection.

“There is a lot of history behind the museum,” added Carr, who said this history is embedded in the Escape Room Team Building Program. “The backstory behind our escape room experience is that it’s July 1775, and Boston is occupied by the British Army.”

Within this story, New Hampshire militia are gathering to march south and assist the newly arrived George Washington, while Colonel Sullivan has written letters for Washington that detail the whereabouts of troops, supplies, and munitions.

“To ensure these dispatches don’t fall into the wrong hands, Colonel Sullivan locked them in a box in the parlor of Folsom Tavern,” said the museum’s Alena Shellenbean, who designed the program.

It is the responsibility of program participants to get them to the horseman, who is leaving for the camp of General Washington. “It’s a fun team-building experience almost 250 years in the making,” added Shellenbean.

Program cost is $15 per person with discounts available for nonprofits and corporate sponsors. To learn more about the museum’s Escape Room Team Building Program, visit https://www.independencemuseum.org/team-building, or email [email protected].

About American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

American Independence Museum To Form Creative Aging Advisory Group

American Independence Museum To Form Creative Aging Advisory Group

by | Apr 25, 2023 | Events, For Adults, Human Interest, Programming

Serving the cultural needs of older adults has been a longstanding priority at the American Independence Museum (AIM), which recently announced its intent to form a Creative Aging Advisory Group. Made possible by a grant from Eventide Foundation, the group will first meet on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. at Exeter Public Library.

“The purpose behind the group is to provide older adults with an active voice in what we offer them,” said Sarah Jaworski, Program Manager at AIM. “The best way to serve older adults is to invite them to become involved.”

AIM Executive Director Jennifer Carr agreed and said she is thrilled to have the support of Eventide Foundation behind the museum’s initiative, ‘Engage Older Adults.’ “This initiative is part of our We Are One theme, which emphasizes the importance of inclusivity and diversity in what we offer the public and how we offer it,” she said. “I’m thrilled we have this opportunity to meaningfully engage older adults in the greater Seacoast area.”

Regarding expectations for participation, Jaworski said she envisions the group may meet every few months and as needed. She said the hope is that AIM can take suggestions from the group and use them to help develop programming and visitor experiences that meet the needs of older adults.

“What we can’t do is assume we know what older adults need and want,” she said. “We want to do more for our older guests from near and far, so this is a terrific first step.”

Currently, AIM offers a variety of programs geared toward older adults, including Traveling Trunk for Older Adults, which provides interactive learning experiences about civic engagement and everyday life during the American Revolution. The trunk often supplements adult education classes at senior centers, 55+ communities, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities.

Tour Info

To join, sponsor, or learn more about AIM’s Creative Aging Advisory Group, contact Jaworski at [email protected].

About American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

American Independence Museum To Open Wednesday, May 3

American Independence Museum To Open Wednesday, May 3

by | Apr 20, 2023 | Events, Human Interest, Programming

On Wednesday, May 3, the American Independence Museum (AIM) will open its doors for 2023, a season in which visitors will be introduced to the museum’s new three-year inclusivity and diversity theme, We Are One. Launched earlier in 2023, We Are One represents AIM’s organizational focus on developing programs, exhibits, and tour experiences that honor many perspectives, including those often marginalized in history.

This emphasis on inclusivity, according to Curator Maddie Beihl, guides her work in developing a new exhibit at the Ladd-Gilman House (c. 1721) that will open by early summer. “We want to acknowledge the Indigenous heritage of the region and the specific impacts of Exeter’s colonial history on Pennacook and Abenaki independence,” she explained.

As part of her work, Beihl will meet with representatives of the Pennacook and Abenaki community, members of the Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective, and other community stakeholders. One topic of discussion will be the significance of the land upon which AIM is located.

“We will work together to determine the best way to acknowledge the loss of traditional Indigenous lifeways as a result of the colonial use of this site,” she said. “We will also restore a portion of AIM’s land to support native plants and wildlife of special significance to the Indigenous community.”

According to AIM Executive Director Jennifer Carr, tours at the museum this season will also begin to reveal new insights into its collection through diverse perspectives with more significant changes to come in 2024.

“This is a process that will involve many stakeholders,” she said. “We look forward to welcoming visitors from near and far to experience our interpretation of New Hampshire’s Colonial history through fresh and unexpected perspectives.”

Tour Info

In 2023, guided tours of the Ladd-Gilman House take place Wednesday through Saturday at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., with self-guided tours available anytime between 10:00 am and 3:30 pm. Guided tours of Folsom Tavern (1775) take place, Wednesday through Saturday, at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

About American Independence Museum

Located in Exeter, NH, the American Independence Museum features a rare collection of historic artifacts that shed light on the Revolutionary War. Examples of popular items in our exhibits include a dragoon pistol, brown bess musket, and 18th century powder horn. Many of our programs offer insight into civic duties, civic engagement and civic responsibility, while we also feature a variety of things to do in NH, such as camps for kids, festivals, summer festival, reenactments, and homeschool programs. Perfect for a day trip or weekend trips, we believe in inclusivity and inclusive history and the spirit behind the phrase, ‘we the people’.

American Independence Museum Launches “We Are One”

American Independence Museum Launches “We Are One”

by | Mar 9, 2023 | Human Interest, Programming

Reflecting its organizational emphasis on inclusivity and diversity, the American Independence Museum (AIM) has launched We Are One, a concept that will serve as its guiding principle for the next three years.

“As we prepare for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026, We Are One will help guide how we develop programs, events, and exhibits, and how we engage with visitors,” said Jennifer Carr, executive director.

Alena Shellenbean, AIM events and marketing manager, said the very formation of the United States serves as a testament to the rationale behind We Are One. “When the Declaration of Independence was written, a lot of people thought it would fail because each colony, each would-be state, was so different,” she said. “The concern was that they might not agree on anything, let alone how to be a country.”

In the early years of the Republic, an etching printed on flyers—the 18th century version of a logo—was developed to help signify the founders’ hope for a new United States. Revealing each of the original 13 colonies as a circle interlocked with one another, the image serves as the basis for AIM’s We Are One logo.

“We have many voices, many perspectives, and they all matter, which I think our logo captures,” remarked Carr. “As we move toward the 250th anniversary of the founding of our nation, We Are One reminds us what is possible when we unite during times of division.”

Carr said this concept inspired the 2nd NH Regiment during the American Revolution. “They used this symbol on their regimental flag,” she said.

According to Carr, We Are One will find expression in four initiatives, which include Bring History to Life, Educate Children & Youth, Engage Older Adults, and Build Community. “Our programs, events, and exhibits all fall within one of these initiatives, which explain quite clearly our intentions,” explained Carr. “We believe these initiatives will resonate with people of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.”

In looking ahead, Shellenbean said she hopes that “our differences as a nation” could be looked upon as a strength rather than a weakness. “We’ve always been a country full of people with big ideas, sometimes wildly different ideas, which I think makes us stronger,” she said. “We Are One is an idea that can hold us together and make our differences into a strength.”

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