Woodman Institute Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Woodman Institute
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Woodman Institute Museum
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 182 Central Ave., Dover, New Hampshire |
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| 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 wants to make people excited about history, science, and art. The museum helps everyone learn about how our country has changed. It does this by showing old objects, beautiful art, and things from nature.
The museum started in 1915 thanks to a generous gift. A woman named Annie Woodman gave $100,000 to help her city learn more. The Woodman Institute officially opened its doors on July 26, 1916. It was recognized as an important historical site in 1980.
Contents
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum has several buildings that you can explore. These buildings are made of brick and are built in a style called Federal style architecture. One of them used to be the home of John P. Hale. He was a senator who worked to end slavery in the United States.
Inside the museum, you'll find many interesting things.
- You can see exhibits about Dover's local history.
- There are also displays about natural history, showing plants and animals.
- You'll find art and old antiques.
Famous Items and Collections
One very special item is a saddle that President Abraham Lincoln rode. He used it to review troops not long before he passed away. There are many other artifacts that show what life was like in the past. The museum especially focuses on the history of Dover.
You can also see:
- A sword given to a waiter by a Japanese delegate in 1905. This was during a peace conference.
- Examples of textile products made in Dover.
- Items from every war the United States has been in.
- An old American flag with 13 stars.
- A huge stuffed polar bear that is about 10-foot-tall (3.0 m)! It came all the way from the Arctic.
- An old piano with real ivory keys.
- A collection of stuffed birds, bugs, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
Exploring the Museum Grounds
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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 survived a big attack called the Cochecho Massacre. It was later moved to the museum grounds to keep it safe.
Other cool things on the grounds include:
- An 1863 bronze Napoleon cannon. This type of cannon was used in the American Civil War. There are only ten of these left in the world!
- A Victorian funeral exhibit inside the Tasker’s Funeral Home Shed. You can even see an 1890s horse-drawn hearse.
- Beautiful gardens, including a medicinal garden and a rain garden.
- The oldest American Sycamore tree in Strafford County.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Connection
In August 2024, the museum added something special for fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. They partnered with Kevin Eastman, one of the creators of the Turtles. The museum now has items related to the famous media franchise. Did you know the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles actually started in Dover?
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in New Hampshire
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Strafford County, New Hampshire
