Programs & Events Calendar

Spring Lecture Series: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Lecture: “The Boston & Maine Railroad in New Hampshire, 1945 to 1983,” by Rick Kfoury
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 6 p.m.
Although the Boston & Maine Railroad’s presence in New Hampshire began to wane in the years following World War II, its daily operations still held great importance for Granite Staters. Rick Kfoury, president of the Boston & Maine Historical Society, shares stories, images, film, and documents—some of them never before seen publicly—of the B&M’s freight and passenger operations in New Hampshire in the mid-20th century. The series is offered both in-person and virtually lectures and is sponsored by Grappone Automotive Group and Sanel NAPA. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; nonmembers are invited to join the Society to enjoy this and other membership benefits. Advance registration is required for everyone (whether in-person or virtual). Members will receive a brochure in the mail with registration information or can register online through Eventbrite.

Lecture: “Teddy Roosevelt’s Nobel Prize,” by Charles Doleac
Saturday, May 4, 2024, 2 p.m. 
In August 1905, diplomats from Russia and Japan met in Portsmouth to negotiate an end to the Russo-Japanese War, which had been raging in the Far East for more than a year. Although few might remember this war today, it foreshadowed in many ways the modern warfare that came to characterize the 20th century. President Theodore Roosevelt orchestrated the talks that led to the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his involvement. Join Chuck Doleac, the founder of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum, to learn about this fascinating chapter in international diplomacy and the role New Hampshire played. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; $7 for nonmembers. No registration required.

Spring Lecture Series: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Lecture: “The Golden Age of Airline Service in the Granite State,” by Jeff Rapsis
Thursday, May 9, 2024, 6 p.m.
The years following World War II saw a rapid increase in air passenger service throughout the nation, with New Hampshire being no exception. Communities like Keene, Berlin, Concord, and Laconia enjoyed scheduled passenger flights to Boston, New York, and beyond. Join Jeff Rapsis, executive director of the New Hampshire Aviation Museum, to explore this period in the mid-20th century when the Granite State enjoyed a Golden Age of air passenger service that connected New Hampshire’s small towns to the nation's air transportation system. The series is offered both in-person and virtually and is sponsored by Grappone Automotive Group and Sanel NAPA. Admission is free for New Hampshire Historical Society members; nonmembers are invited to join the Society to enjoy this and other membership benefits. Advance registration is required for everyone (whether in-person or virtual). Members will receive a brochure in the mail with registration information or can register online through Eventbrite.

New Hampshire Historical Society Annual Meeting
Saturday, June 8, 2024, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
New Hampshire Historical Society members are invited to attend the annual meeting, either in-person at 30 Park Street in Concord or virtually via Zoom. (All Society members will receive a printed invitation via traditional mail in May.) Hear presentations about the Society’s recent activities and accomplishments and enjoy a talk by keynote speaker Dayton Duncan on “How New Hampshire Saved the American Buffalo from Extinction.” Dayton Duncan has collaborated for more than 30 years with Ken Burns on some of the most acclaimed documentary films. Their most recent one, The American Buffalo, premiered on PBS last October, along with Duncan’s 14th book, Blood Memory: The Tragic Decline and Improbable Resurrection of the American Buffalo. The Society’s annual meeting is a member-only event, and admission is free. An optional buffet lunch is available for $20 per person. In-person arrival time is 9:30 a.m.; the business meeting begins at 10 a.m., followed by the keynote talk. Advance registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendees. Seating is limited and in-person registration is required by May 31. For in-person registration click here. To register to attend virtually click here. To register by phone for either option, call 603-228-6688. 

Lecture: Swenson Granite Company, 1883 to 2016
Thursday, June 13, 2024, 7 p.m.
Stubborn, determined, resolute in the face of the elements—few symbols characterize New Hampshire and the people who live here like the granite bedrock of our state. For more than 130 years, the Swenson Granite Company has quarried stone in New Hampshire, providing the building blocks that created the Library of Congress, the Brooklyn Bridge, battlefield memorials at Gettysburg, and dozens of other notable structures around the country. Join Kurt Swenson, the fourth-generation of Swensons to manage the company, as he talks about the dramatic story of this once family-owned business and the future of the granite industry in New Hampshire. This talk is co-sponsored by the Concord Historical Society, with support from the Walker Lecture Fund. Admission is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Introduction to “Moose on the Loose”
Thursday, August 1, 2024, 9 to 11 a.m. (virtual only)
Get a crash course on the state social studies curriculum, "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids," which is being adopted by schools all over New Hampshire. Developed by the New Hampshire Historical Society for upper elementary and middle school students and educators, this resource provides what you’ll need to introduce students to state history, civics, geography, and economics. Structured in 18 units that cover everything from the ice age to the present, the “Moose” includes lesson plans, explainer videos, inquiry resources, curated primary source sets, and fun, easy ways to work with primary and secondary sources. Plus, it’s all available free of charge on an open-access site. No passwords or access codes required! "Moose on the Loose" integrates high-quality social studies instruction with English language arts, math, and science. Register for this virtual workshop through Eventbrite.

Civics and “Moose on the Loose”
Friday, August 2, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (virtual)
Monday, August 5, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person)
In this workshop, we will focus on the foundational civics instruction offered in New Hampshire’s statewide social studies curriculum, "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids." Developed by the New Hampshire Historical Society for students and educators in grades 3–8, this resource provides everything you’ll need to introduce your students to the ideas that underlay our system of government and the structures and practices Americans have established for self-governance. The “Moose” includes lesson plans, explainer videos, inquiry resources, curated primary source sets, and fun, easy ways to work with primary and secondary sources. Familiarity with navigating the “Moose on the Loose” curriculum from a prior training will be vital in this workshop. Participants interested in learning more about this high-quality state social studies curriculum created by the New Hampshire Historical Society are encouraged to attend the virtual workshop, Introduction to “Moose on the Loose,” on August 1. Attendees will receive a $50 Target gift card and CEU credits. In-person attendees will receive breakfast and lunch. These workshops have been possible, in part, by a justice grant from the New Hampshire Bar Foundation.

Register for the virtual workshop through Eventbrite here.
Register for the in-person workshop through Eventbrite here.

New Hampshire History Institute
Wednesday to Friday, August 7–9, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person only)
Learn more about the state you love! The New Hampshire Historical Society presents the New Hampshire History Institute for elementary and middle school educators. This boot camp in New Hampshire history will include sessions on the Abenaki, early colonial settlement, American Revolution, tourism, immigration, and civics; age-appropriate social studies and ELA methodology; and will include explore lessons from "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids." Familiarity with the “Moose on the Loose” curriculum from a prior training will be vital in this workshop. Participants interested in learning more about this high-quality state social studies curriculum created by the New Hampshire Historical Society are encouraged to attend the virtual workshop, Introduction to “Moose on the Loose,” on August 1. Breakfast and lunch are included. Attendees will receive a $200 Target gift card and CEU credits for the three-day workshop. Register through Eventbrite.

The American Revolution for Educators
Monday and Tuesday, August 12–13, 2024, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (in-person only)
The New Hampshire Historical Society presents a professional development opportunity focusing on New Hampshire and the American Revolution, a two-day workshop for elementary and middle school educators in preparation for the Revolution 250 anniversary coming up in 2026. Refresh your knowledge of the American Revolution and learn about New Hampshire's role in it, all while exploring ready-made lesson plans, projects, and activities you can introduce to your students in the coming school year. The workshop explores lessons from "Moose on the Loose: Social Studies for Granite State Kids," especially Unit 5: New Hampshire and the American Revolution. We will also discuss plans for the state and national celebrations for the Revolution 250 anniversary and the New Hampshire Historical Society’s American Revolution-themed “603 History Hunt,” a family-friendly statewide scavenger hunt. Familiarity with the “Moose on the Loose” curriculum from a prior training will be vital in this workshop. Participants interested in learning more about this high-quality state social studies curriculum created by the New Hampshire Historical Society are encouraged to attend the virtual workshop, Introduction to “Moose on the Loose,” on August 1. Breakfast and lunch are included. Attendees will receive a $100 Target gift card and CEU credits for the two-day workshop. Register through Eventbrite.