Interested in exploring the history of the Upper Valley and learning what made the region distinctive? Most of the villages and downtowns of the Upper Valley are well preserved, but sometimes context and explanation is needed to fully appreciate this part of northern New England.
Fortunately, the region offers an impressive array of museums and historic sites that allow visitors to learn about the Upper Valley’s economic, cultural and political development. Besides providing an opportunity to learn about the area’s past, the museums are sufficiently widespread to allow even long-time residents to venture to previously unexplored nooks and crannies of the Upper Valley.
American Precision Museum in Windsor: Open daily through the end of October, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Current exhibits include “Shaping America,” “The Tool Revolution,” “Arming the Union” and “Consumer Culture and Industrial Might.” $5-$8, families $20, children under 6 free. 196 Main St. 802-674-5781 or americanprecision.org.
Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Working dairy farm, exhibits and activities that explore Vermont’s rural heritage $4 to $14, 2 and under free. 69 Old River Road. 802-457-2355 or billingsfarm.org.
Bradford, Vt., Historical Museum: Friday 10 a.m.-noon, from June 3-Oct. 28, or by appointment. A new exhibit features political memorabilia from the past 60 years. Free. 172 N. Main St. 802-222-4423 or 802-222-9621.
Bridgewater Historical Society Museum: Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Columbus Day weekend. Includes collection of artifacts, maps, photographs and data on area gold mines, mills and Civil War. Free. 12 N. Bridgewater Road. 802-672-1521 or bridgewaterhistory.org.
Enfield Shaker Museum: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m. General admission includes the introductory video program, guided tours, exhibits and craft demonstrations. Access to other historic buildings, the Herb and Production Garden, the Community Garden and the Feast Grounds. $3-$12, 5 and under free. 447 Route 4A. 603-632-4346 or shakermuseum.org.
Fort at No. 4 in Charlestown: Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., May 7-Nov. 6. Tours and re-enactments at the historic fort that played a role in the French and Indian War. $6-$10, children 5 and under are free. 267 Springfield Road. 603-826-5700 or fortat4.org.
Grafton Historical Society Museum: 2-4 p.m., Sundays through Oct. 9. Includes artifacts from the town and surrounding areas. Free. 11 Library Road. 603-523-4569.
Hartford Historical Society Museum: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tours and exhibits about the town’s history, including the Abenaki Nation. Free. Garipay House, 1461 Maple St. 802-296-3132 or hartfordhistory.org.
Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in South Royalton: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 1:30-7 p.m. Memorial includes historic artifacts, films, sculptures and hiking paths and showings of Meet the Mormons. Free. 357 LDS Lane. 802-763-7742 or lds.org/locations/joseph-smith-birthplace-memorial.
Justin Morrill Homestead in Strafford: Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Guided tours of Gothic Revival house, artwork, formal gardens, interpretive exhibits and walking trail. $6, children 14 and under free. 214 Justin Morrill Highway. 802-828-3051 or morrillhomestead.org.
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park in Woodstock: Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Trails, gardens and a mansion at Vermont’s only national park. $4 or $8, 15 and under free. Reservations for mansion tours recommended.54 Elm St. nps.gov/mabi or 802-457-3368, ext. 222.
Newport Historical Museum: Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Current displays include a colonial kitchen, a gallery of fine oil paintings by Andre Champollion, a colonial bedroom and two other rooms where exhibits are rotated annually in September. Free. 20 Central St. 603-863-1294 or newportnhhistory.org.
Norwich Historical Society: Wednesday and Thursday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-noon from June-October Current exhibit is “Poets and the Past.” Free admission. 277 Main St. 802-649-0124 or norwichvthistoricalsociety.org/.
Old Constitution House in Windsor: Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday holidays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., through Oct. 10. Restored tavern where the Vermont Constitution was signed in 1777. $3, 14 and under free. 16 N. Main St. 802-672-3773 or http://historicsites.vermont.gov/directory/old_constitution.
Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish: Open daily through October, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sculpture, gardens and tours of Aspet House on a 25-acre park. $7, 15 and under free. 139 Saint Gaudens Road. 603-675-2175 or nps.gov/saga.
The Rev. Dan Foster House in Weathersfield: Sunday-Thursday, 2-5 p.m., through Labor Day. The museum of the Weathersfield Historical Society features displays of farm tools, toys, clothing, paintings and quilts. Free. 2656 Weathersfield Center Road. 802-263-5505 or weathersfieldhistory.org.
Town Hall Heritage Center in Orford: Saturday 10 a.m.- 1 p.m.; Sunday 2-5 p.m.; Wednesday 4:30-7:30 p.m., through Sept. 11. Includes aspects of student life such as clubs, plays, winter carnival and sports. Information about the history of the school, enrollment statistics, and photographs and yearbooks are on display. 2528 Route 25A. Free. 603-345-4359.
Webster Cottage Museum in Hanover: Wednesday and Saturday 2:30-4:30 p.m. through mid-October. Local furnishings, photographs and artifacts, many related to Daniel Webster, a resident of the house while he was a Dartmouth College student. Free. 32 North Main St. 603-643-6529
Woodstock History Center: Wednesday – Saturday 1-5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m., through October. Guided museum tours available. Exhibits include wedding gowns from 1780 to the present, winter sports and Woodstock schools, as well as art, furniture, toys, maps and historic photographs, and much more. Special tour of high interest artifacts for children. Gift shop, gardens and grounds. Free. 26 Elm St. 802-457-1822 or woodstockhistorical.org.
Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich: Open daily, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Activities that are part of the exhibit “The Tinkering Loft” include robot, wind-powered race car, and pinball machine construction, related to the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Also includes regularly occurring hands-on science activities. $13 or $16, under 2 free. 1 Montshire Road. 802-649-2200 or montshire.org.
Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee: Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Daily program schedule:10:30 a.m., songbird feeding time; 11 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30, live raptor programs; 2:15 p.m. reptile encounter; 2:45 p.m., raptor feeding time. Exhibits, scavenger hunts and trails. 6565 Woodstock Road. Programs free with $12.50-$14.50. 802-359-5000 or vinsweb.org.
Compiled by Valley News staff writers Aimee Caruso and Liz Sauchelli. Did we miss a museum? After publication this list will remain online and will be updated. Please email calendar@vnews.com for any additions or updates.