Woodman Institute Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Woodman Institute
|
|
Woodman Institute Museum
|
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 182 Central Ave., Dover, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Built | 1675 Damm Garrison 1813 Hale House 1818 Woodman House 1827 Keefe House |
| Architect | Captain William Palmer |
| Architectural style | Federal, Garrison House |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000317 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1980 |
The Woodman Institute Museum is a cool place to visit in Dover, New Hampshire, United States. It's a museum that teaches you about history, science, and the arts.
A kind person named Annie Woodman started the museum in 1915. She left $100,000 in her will to help her city learn more about these subjects. The museum officially opened its doors on July 26, 1916. The "Woodman Institute" was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because it's an important historical site.
Contents
What Can You See at the Woodman Institute Museum?
The museum has several buildings, including three brick houses. These houses are built in the Federal style, which was popular a long time ago. One of these houses used to belong to John P. Hale. He was a senator who worked to end slavery in the United States.
Inside the museum, you can find many interesting things. There are exhibits about local history and natural history. You can also see art and old antiques.
Famous Items and Historical Treasures
One really special item is a saddle that President Abraham Lincoln rode. He used it to review soldiers not long before he passed away. The museum also has a collection of artifacts that show what life was like in the past. There's a special focus on Dover's own history.
Imagine seeing a sword given by a Japanese delegate! This sword was a gift to a waiter after a peace meeting in 1905. You can also see examples of cloth made in Dover a long time ago. The museum has items from every war the United States has been in. There's even an old American flag with 13 stars!
For science lovers, there's a huge 10-foot stuffed polar bear from the Arctic. You can also see an old piano with real ivory keys. Plus, there's a collection of stuffed birds, fish, and other animals.
Explore the Oldest House in Dover
.jpg)
On the museum's property, you'll find the 1675 William Damm Garrison. This is one of the oldest houses in New Hampshire that is still standing! It's also the oldest house in Dover. This house even survived a big attack called the Cochecho Massacre a long time ago.
The garrison house was moved to the museum grounds to keep it safe. It's now protected under a special shelter. Inside this shelter, you can also see a brass Napoleon cannon. This type of cannon was used during the American Civil War. There are only about ten of these cannons left in the world!
More to Explore
- List of the oldest buildings in New Hampshire
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Strafford County, New Hampshire
