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 special place in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. It's a natural history museum located at 755 North Main Street. Dr. Henry Libby started this museum in 1912. It was the very first museum in New Hampshire focused only on nature. The town of Wolfeboro now owns it. You can visit the museum during the warmer months, from June to October. The building itself is quite old and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
Contents
About the Museum Building
The Libby Museum is in the northwestern part of Wolfeboro. It sits on the north side of Route 109. From the museum, you can see Winter Harbor, which is part of Lake Winnipesaukee.
How the Museum Was Built
Dr. Henry Forest Libby had the museum built between 1908 and 1912. Local workers helped construct it. They even used timber from a nearby place called Rattlesnake Island.
Building Design and Features
The museum building is shaped like a rectangle. It has a hip roof and a strong concrete base. The outside walls are covered in stucco. They have sections divided by pilasters, which are like flat columns. Most sections have a large window near the roof. The main entrance is in the middle, with a small gabled roof over it. Inside, the museum is one big room. It has smooth plaster walls and wooden floors. The building has a clever way to stay cool naturally. Air vents near the bottom of the walls let air flow through.
Museum History and Collections
The idea for the Libby Museum came from Dr. Henry Libby. He had collected many natural items over the years. He started planning the museum's construction way back in 1890.
Founding and Early Years
Dr. Libby designed the museum building himself. He also got advice from an architect named C. Howard Walker from Boston, Massachusetts. The museum was finished in 1912. Dr. Libby passed away in 1933. He left the museum to his children. If they didn't want to run it, it would go to the town. In 1956, the town of Wolfeboro officially took over managing the museum. It was the first museum in New Hampshire dedicated only to the state's natural history.
What You Can See Inside
The museum's collection includes many interesting things. You can see different types of plants and animals. There are also birds, fish, and even minerals. The museum is open every year from early June until the Columbus Day weekend in October. There is a small fee to enter.
See also
