By Lorry Young, Radisson Hotel Class of 2006
The Woodman Institute Museum located in Dover, NH offers four buildings to explore ...Woodman Home Galleries, Hale House, Damm Garrison, and Keefe House and Carriage Barn. I found this to be a very entertaining, and educational way to spend two hours in New Hampshire. Below is a short synopsis of this very interesting tour to explore in NH.The Damm Garrison is a well preserved 300 year old house that is now a museum with a collection of over 800 items. Period artifacts enable museum visitors to experience colonial Dover.
The Woodman Home is quite unique with an extensive collection of rocks and fossils, Indian Artifacts, Mammals and Marine Life, Birds and Butterflies, Snakes and Turtles, and a Doll lovers collection. The top floor is a Memorial Museum, including a saddle used by President Lincoln. The Hale House has a collection of art and period furniture circa 1800. The furniture collection includes a desk used by Dover's first Mayor, Andrew Peirce, and a table used by Rev. Jeremy Belknap where he wrote "A History of New Hampshire".
The Keefe House has more than 7,000 historical and genealogical documents including wills dating back to 1741 - even a 1771 tax bill from King George.The Museum is open to the public 12:30-4:30 P.M. Wednesday through Sunday, except holidays, and is closed December 1 through March 1.
