People in New Hampshire understand the importance of history and the importance of remembering it, learning from it, and preserving it. There is a respect for history and the accomplishments of the people who came before us. This respect extends to ordinary people like the early farmers who cleared bolder strewn land, built stone walls, and survived long winters-to eloquent writers and scholars like Daniel Webster-and to former presidents like Franklin Pierce.
Like many New Hampshire Farm Museums, Musterfield Farm in North Sutton preserves historic buildings and traditional farm skills, such as plowing, gardening, quilting, rug making, and cooking.
There is also a passion for preserving historic buildings-homes, barns, town halls, churches, and covered bridges. This work is championed by a variety of public and private organizations and the good will of many New Hampshire citizens.
At the same time, New Hampshire has a thirst to pursue national and global prominence in business and technology. Today, family-run farms exist side-by-side with business on the cutting edge of computer technology. The challenge for New Hampshire citizens is to find a balance that allows the state to maintain its unique traditions and cultural outlook, while at the same time, face the future with creativity and flexibility.
This theme was added for the 2000 Celebrate New Hampshire Festival and featured a variety of New Hampshire-based organizations, museums and individuals who are dedicated to preserving and presenting aspects of New Hampshire history. Exhibits focused upon New Hampshire's Native American heritage, early colonial history, and the evolution of farming equipment, modes of early transportation, and the contributions of civic groups over time.
Organizations that presented in this area of the festival were:
Fort at No. 4 staff came to Celebrate New Hampshire festival to explain New Hampshire's Revolutionary War history.
See the list of festival participants & presenters for both festivals.
View images of the 1999 festival site at the National Mall in Washington DC.
View images of the 2000 Celebrate New Hampshire festival site at the Hopkinton State Fairgrounds in Contoocook, New Hampshire.
For more on New Hampshire History
Photo credits
All: Photographer - Lynn Martin Graton
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