Libby Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Libby Museum
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of 109N and Lang Pond Rd., Wolfeboro, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 1.42 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | C. Howard Walker |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000690 |
| Added to NRHP | June 29, 1998 |
The Libby Museum is a really cool place in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, where you can learn all about nature! It's a natural history museum, which means it shows off plants, animals, and other natural things. Dr. Henry Libby started this museum way back in 1912. It was the very first museum in New Hampshire just for natural history. The town of Wolfeboro now owns it, and you can visit it during the warmer months, usually from June to October. The building itself is pretty special too, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
The Museum Building
The Libby Museum is located in the northwestern part of Wolfeboro. It sits on the north side of Route 109, looking out over the Winter Harbor part of Lake Winnipesaukee. Dr. Henry Forest Libby had this building constructed between 1908 and 1912. Local workers helped build it, using wood from nearby Rattlesnake Island.
The building is mostly rectangular with a sloped roof and a strong concrete base. Its outside walls are covered in stucco, which is a type of plaster. The walls have sections separated by flat columns called pilasters. Most sections have a large window near the roof. The main entrance is in the middle of the front, protected by a small, gabled porch.
Inside, the museum is one big room with smooth plaster walls and wooden floors. It has a special way of keeping cool naturally. Air vents near the bottom of the walls let air flow in and out, helping to keep the building comfortable without needing air conditioning.
Museum's Story and Exhibits
The idea for the Libby Museum came from Dr. Henry Libby. He had collected many natural items and started planning the museum in 1890. Dr. Libby designed the museum building himself, getting advice from an architect named C. Howard Walker from Boston, Massachusetts. The museum was finished in 1912.
When Dr. Libby passed away in 1933, he left the museum to his children. If they didn't want to run it, the town could take over. In 1956, the town of Wolfeboro officially decided to manage the museum. It was the first museum in New Hampshire dedicated only to the state's natural history.
Today, the museum's collection includes many interesting things. You can see examples of plants, different kinds of animals, birds, fish, and even minerals. The museum is open for visitors during the warmer months, from early June until the Columbus Day weekend in October. There is a small fee to enter.
See also
