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The independent nonprofit that saves, preserves, and shares New Hampshire history.

 NEWS FROM THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 June 9, 2014

 

CONTACT: 
Brenda French at 603-856-0607 or Bill Dunlap at 603-856-0601.

 

NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL SOCIETY UPGRADING HISTORIC PARK STREET BUILDING AND RECONFIGURING FACILITIES

 

CONCORD, NH--The New Hampshire Historical Society will begin reconfiguring its facilities this month under a plan announced previously. All public programs, including exhibitions, school programs, and public lectures will be consolidated at its Park Street building (also known as the Tuck Library). Museum galleries previously located in the Society's Eagle Square building will be closing at the end of June. Those spaces will be reconfigured for use as administrative and curatorial areas, collections storage, and commercial rental space. The Society's museum store previously located at Eagle Square will be moving to an exclusively on-line format.


These changes are part of a larger strategic plan adopted by the Society's board of trustees in 2011. A capital campaign launched to pay for the plan has raised $5 million to-date toward a $9 million goal. Besides the facilities reconfigurations the project will include investments in improved energy and climate control systems at the Park Street building, an initiative to digitize the Society's collections to make them widely available on the internet, the launch of a new internet-based network that will allow local communities from around NH to share their historical collections, and increased endowment. 


This week a new exhibition, "New Hampshire Then and Now," opens at Park Street. The exhibition features 40 pairs of photographs of unique places, people, and events that depict the character and culture of New Hampshire, past and present.  Based on the book of the same title by photographer, author, and publisher Peter E. Randall, the exhibition provides visitors with a diverse visual overview of New Hampshire, comparing sites and people across the state, between the late 19th century and today.


At the Eagle Square facility, the exhibition previously on view, "New Hampshire Through Many Eyes," will be closing on June 29. The Society's Eagle Square museum store will be converting to an exclusively online store, where the Society publications and products will continue to be available.


Said Bill Dunlap, Society executive director, " We are very excited about these plans.
We will be taking advantage of digital technologies to make our collections more widely accessible than ever before; we will be creating a rich new exhibition experience in our most inspiring and historic building -- Park Street; we will be more efficiently using our facilities; and we will be strengthening the Society's finances for the long run."


The Society has already posted more than 25,000 of its museum objects on its website. With the launch of the new online network planned for this fall, local historical societies throughout the state will be able to participate as well, displaying items from their own collections along with the Society's. The network also will feature online exhibitions, a timeline of New Hampshire history, and resources for teachers and students. Future plans include the display of thousands of historic community photographs along with the papers of major figures such as Revolutionary War generals John Stark and John Sullivan, President Franklin Pierce, and Declaration of Independence signer Josiah Bartlett. 


In 2015, following completion of the climate control project at the Park Street building, a
major new exhibition will open. This new exhibition will be designed to take advantage
of mobile technologies such as smart phones to enhance the visitor experience.

 

Founded in 1823, the New Hampshire Historical Society is the independent nonprofit that saves, preserves, and shares New Hampshire history. The Society serves thousands of children and adults each year through its museum, library, educational programs, publications, and outreach programs. The Society is not a state-funded agency. All of its programs and services are made possible by membership dues and contributions. For more information about the Society and the benefits of membership, visit nhhistory.org or call 603-228-6688.

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