On Thursday, August 15, the American Independence Museum (AIM) will launch a selection of digital exhibits as part of an organizational effort to increase accessibility to its collection.

Former President of the AIM Board of Governors, Ozzie Ayscue recently donated $4,000 to hardwire AIM’s two historic structures for Wi-Fi, which is necessary for the digital exhibits to function. His initial $10,000 donation enabled AIM to purchase the digital exhibit technology.

“As soon as I heard about this, I just thought it was going to create so many possibilities,” said Ayscue. “The system brings this museum’s spectacular assets to life. Anyone can be engaged to ponder the big questions of the American Revolution and dig further into their areas of personal interest.”

Created and distributed by 42 Kites, the digital exhibit technology is accessed by devices that feature QR codes. When scanned, these QR codes (virtually) send visitors to digital exhibits that, in the case of AIM, will provide visitors with access to all parts of the museum’s historic structures, Ladd-Gilman House (1721) and Folsom Tavern (1775).

According to AIM’s Special Project Manager, Jennifer Carr, the 42 Kites devices are particularly useful for individuals with hearing, visual, and mobility impairments.

“These devices help make the historically inaccessible second-floor spaces in both AIM structures more reachable for everyone,” she explained. “These devices are a part of our commitment to removing barriers to our museum and increasing accessibility…Ozzie’s gift will allow us to take the final steps to becoming a museum without walls.”

The digital exhibits will also allow AIM members and those from outside the region (and state) remotely access some exhibits. However, a majority of digital exhibits will only be available (to explore) on site.

According to Ayscue, his gifts underscore his belief that AIM will continue to build on its mission of inclusivity, embodied in its multi-year We Are One campaign. Launched in 2023, We Are One informs AIM programs, events, and exhibits. Its premise is that all voices and all perspectives matter, an ideal made implicit with the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17, 1787.

“We want everyone to be able to join the discussion,” he added.

Home to 3,000 historic artifacts, including an original copy of the Dunlap Broadside (Declaration of Independence), AIM develops programs, events, and exhibits that engage people of all ages in the ongoing struggle for freedom and self-governance. AIM is sponsored in part by The Society Of The Cincinnati In The State Of New Hampshire, Service Credit Union, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and William W. Treat Foundation.

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’.

The Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has awarded the American Independence Museum (AIM) an $8,275 grant that will help restore the historic Ladd-Gilman House (1721). The grant will specifically fund repairs to basement doors and restoration of basement door frames, parts of which are rotted and require replacement.

“We are honored to participate in the renovations to the Ladd-Gilman House,” said Massachusetts Society of Colonial Wars Treasurer and Grant Committee Chairman Bill Mann. “This project is certainly worthy of a small gift to help with period-correct building maintenance, and also of our appreciation.”

Regarding why they made this investment in AIM, Mann cited “overlapping and deeply interconnected interests” despite each organization focusing on different historic periods. “New Hampshire was a part of Massachusetts when the Ladd-Gilman House was built,” he said. “We have limited funds to pursue our mission of preserving colonial history, but an historic 18th-century structure like the Ladd-Gilman House stands out as an important example of our shared heritage.”

These initial repairs at the Ladd-Gilman House are part of a larger restoration project that will take several years to complete. “We have yet to formally launch the project, but we plan to do so in the coming months,” said Dr. Robert Levey, AIM Interim Executive Director. “We truly appreciate the support of The Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which puts a spotlight on this incredible structure.”

The Ladd-Gilman House was built in 1721 by Nathaniel Ladd. Originally built of brick before being covered in clapboard in the 18th century, the house is one of the oldest brick structures in the state. Daniel Gilman acquired the house in 1747, expanding it with a timber frame addition in 1752 and renovating the interior.

The house became the State Treasury during the Revolutionary War, with both Nicholas and John Taylor Gilman serving as state treasurers. The house was also the birthplace of Nicholas Gilman, Jr., a signatory of the United States Constitution and U.S. Senator.

Home to 3,000 historic artifacts, including an original copy of the Dunlap Broadside (Declaration of Independence), AIM develops programs, events, and exhibits that engage people of all ages in the ongoing struggle for freedom and self-governance. AIM is sponsored in part by The Society Of The Cincinnati In The State Of New Hampshire, Service Credit Union, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and William W. Treat Foundation.

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’.

A direct descendent of Nathaniel and Mercy Ladd who built the Ladd-Gilman House (1721), located on the grounds of the American Independence Museum (AIM), Bonnie Ladd-Sullivan is currently on a journey to document her ancestors.

Ladd-Sullivan and two of her cousins became curious about their family history after her grandmother, Lulu Ladd, gave them a box of research and memories collected by their great aunt, Mable Ladd, after she died. Since then, she has built a family tree going back ten generations and that includes 1,795 people.

“When I learned that my ancestors came here in the 1600s, that blew my mind,” said Ladd-Sullivan, who currently resides in Burnsville, Minnesota. “For the first time in my whole life, I saw my family as more than Minnesota farmers.”

In fact, she has learned that some of her ancestors made significant contributions to history across the U.S. In addition to following the Ladd family line, Ladd-Sullivan has learned she is the 11th great-granddaughter of Roger Williams, founder of what eventually became the state of Rhode Island. Her relatives were among several families who founded the city of Greeley, Colorado, and she has tracked down various items her family brought with them when they moved out west.

“We’ve had a very rich history and it’s fun finding these tidbits and piecing them together,” she said. “I feel like I talk about these people as if I personally know them at this point. I do feel like they have led me to some of the members we have searched for.”

Ladd-Sullivan hopes to travel to AIM in summer 2025, a trip she has wanted to make for a long time. “My cousins visited a few years ago, and they said the museum was absolutely fascinating,” she added.

Through her research, she has learned some of her ancestors were slave owners, and she thinks it is important to acknowledge the reality of that.

“I want my kids to know our history and to know the impacts of our ancestors’ actions,” said Ladd-Sullivan. “You don’t just pop up like a stalk of corn. We need to remember our history in order to have a vested interest in our country and the future.”

Home to 3,000 historic artifacts, including an original copy of the Dunlap Broadside (Declaration of Independence), AIM develops programs, events, and exhibits that engage people of all ages in the ongoing struggle for freedom and self-governance. AIM is sponsored in part by The Society Of The Cincinnati In The State Of New Hampshire, Service Credit Union, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and William W. Treat Foundation.

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’.

Historian Norra Cardillo is researching the Ladd and Gilman women of Exeter, New Hampshire, work she plans to present as part of her master’s portfolio when she graduates from Idaho State University next spring. A descendant of the Ladd and Gilman families, she visited the historic Ladd-Gilman House (1721) at the American Independence Museum (AIM) for the second time in March to continue her research.

According to Cardillo, her research “explores the lived experiences and impact of
women in history.” She said she is especially interested in the ways in which seventeenth-century women defied societal expectations and resisted British authority, parts of history she believes have been predominantly overlooked.

“New Hampshire provincial records from 1684 show that Gilman family women threatened tax collectors under royal British governor Edward Cranfield with violence in order to successfully evade what they deemed unjust taxation,” she said. “Their rebellious action illustrates that women at this time were equal players in the battle for freedom from British colonial rule.”

One of these women, Elizabeth Gilman (Treworgye), was married to statesman John Gilman Sr. “I believe her feminine rebellion against colonial authority would have greatly influenced those around her,” she added.

She said examples like Gilman (Treworgye) have led her to theorize that the people of Exeter had begun to develop a uniquely American identity long before the revolution. Finding primary sources, however, has proved challenging.

“I have seen firsthand that women in history are underrepresented across vast topics,” she said. “This creates issues in the historical narrative because half of the story is missing unless we take steps to amend this critical oversight.”

According to Cardillo, she is taking these steps herself, which includes uncovering colonial women’s motivations, experiences, and stories from historic collections and documents like those at AIM.

Research Material

Her efforts have garnered her attention, as Cardillo recently learned she has been selected to present her research on the early Gilman women at the American Historical Association’s annual conference in New York City in January 2025. Sponsored by the Coordinating Council for Women in History, Cardillo and other selected graduate students will have the opportunity to share their work.

“I am very excited about this opportunity, and it will be my first time attending an academic historical conference,” she said. “I am honored to have such support in helping to highlight women’s history and I am truly thankful for the role AIM has played in encouraging me in my work.”

Jennifer Carr, former executive director of AIM, expressed excitement that Cardillo is able to utilize AIM’s resources to further her research. “Norra’s research is exactly why maintaining spaces of history is so important,” she said, “Women in colonial America were banned from political participation but found ways to make their voices heard. This research shows that there are many ways to participate in civic engagement and can inspire women today to actively engage in democracy.”

In the coming year, Cardillo plans to analyze artifacts, architecture, and primary and secondary source material to learn more about the Ladd and Gilman women. “It is by honoring a woman’s place in history as equal to that of men, that we ensure a more comprehensive understanding of our past in the present day and for future generations,” she stated.

Home to 3,000 historic artifacts, including an original copy of the Dunlap Broadside (Declaration of Independence), AIM develops programs, events, and exhibits that engage people of all ages in the ongoing struggle for freedom and self-governance. AIM is sponsored in part by The Society Of The Cincinnati In The State Of New Hampshire, Service Credit Union, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and William W. Treat Foundation.

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’.

Guests at the American Independence Festival on Saturday, July 13 may leave with a greater appreciation for their clothes, their shoes, and even their forks at an authentic Traditional Artisan Village. The Traditional Artisans Village is presented by New Hampshire State Council on the Arts (NHSCA).

“The Artisan Village is a big part of the Festival because it showcases a wide selection of trades that helped shape the colonial industry and supported the fledgling nation during the war for independence,” said Eric von Aschwege, an historic gunsmith who manages the Village. “Festival guests can engage with the artisans and learn about how everyday items were made in the 18th-century by hand.”

This year, von Aschwege said guests can expect a more in-depth experience, including changes to the Village’s layout that will allow more space for each vendor to demonstrate their craft. “I think it’s going to make for a more intimate and programmatic experience for guests,” he said.

At the Village, visitors will meet traditional artisans in period attire, including Thomaston, ME-based Bill Wasson, who returns as a ropemaker demonstrating the precise twisting of fibers to make long sections of rope. Berwick, ME resident Peter Cook will spin flax fiber, the base material for linen and one of the most common fabrics during the Revolution.

“There will also be a couple making leather shoes and a craftsman using cow horns to create common objects such as powder horns, cups, and utensils,” added von Aschwege. “Other expert tradespeople include a wood joiner, candlemaker, basketmaker, and potter.”

At the Festival, Von Aschwege will also participate in the Village, as he will present on 18th-century arms in the colonies once in the morning and again in the afternoon.

“I’m excited to lead a discussion about construction techniques and the difference between how they were made in England versus the colonies,” von Aschwege said. “I think historic trades can inspire people to be excited about creating things and are relevant and interesting for younger, diverse audiences.”

The American Independence Festival is presented by Service Credit Union, whose investment provides free admission for all ages. Additional support is provided by Kennebunk Savings. “Sponsors are instrumental in our ability to bring history to life in creative, educational, and fun ways,” said Dr. Robert Levey, AIM Interim Executive Director.

In addition to the Traditional Artisans Village, the Festival features reenactors and soldiers, special exhibits, games, vendor marketplace, beer garden, and a display of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence (Broadside).

Presented by Service CU, the American Independence Festival takes place at the American Independence Museum in historic downtown Exeter, NH from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 13. Admission is free.

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’.