Exhibits
Woven In Time: 11,000 Years at Amoskeag Falls
A Permanent Exhibit at the Millyard Museum
Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Included with museum admission
See the stone tools of the Paleo-Indians who fished at Amoskeag Falls thousands of years ago, learn how raw cotton was made into cloth during the Industrial Revolution, and stroll under the lighted arches of Elm Street during its heyday. Learn how the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company developed its famous “mile of mills” and how it shaped Manchester into the largest planned city in New England. Discover what life was like for the people who came here from many different countries to start new lives. The city’s stories are told through creative and colorful displays of original artifacts, documents and photographs, as well as murals and multi-media presentations.
Features of the exhibit include the Ashland No. 1 Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine, manufactured by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in 1871, the Manchester Wall of Fame, an interactive panel that showcases 48 individuals from Manchester, and the "March of Time" film that tells the story of the city's resiliency and renewal after Amoskeag closed in 1936.
NOW OPEN!
Special Exhibit: Manchester Through the Lens of Frank Kelly
In the Millyard Museum's Henry M. Fuller State Theatre Gallery
This exhibit highlights the works of Frank Kelly, a prominent Manchester photographer from the 1950s through the 1980s. Kelly owned Frank Kelly Studio in Manchester for 49 years. Over his long career, he, along with his wife Eleanor, photographed many Manchester people, businesses, and landmarks. The Manchester Historic Association is pleased to have recently acquired a large collection of Kelly's photographs and negatives, many of which are on display in this exhibit.
Special Exhibit: The People's Sculptor: The Life and Works of John Rogers
This Special exhibit ended October 29, 2022
John Rogers (1829 – 1904) was a well-known sculptor whose statuary "groups" were popular in the late nineteenth century. Called “The People’s Sculptor”, he was the first American sculptor to mass produce his work and worked mostly in plaster to make his sculptures more affordable. He sold as many as 80,000 sculptures during his lifetime and effectively brought the art of sculpture to the American middle class. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, his business was centered in New York City and he retired to New Canaan, Connecticut. It was in Manchester, New Hampshire, however, that he got his start as a sculptor. While working as a mechanic in the machine shop of the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company from 1850 to 1856, he began modeling with clay that he found near the Merrimack River in Hooksett, which led to his career as a sculptor. Towards the end of his career, he gave one of his finest works, a seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, to the City of Manchester as a gift. This exhibit celebrates Rogers and his art, and looks at the importance influence Manchester had in his life.Coming soon: a video of a tour of the exhibit, led by MHA Executive Director Jeff Barraclough
Special Exhibit: Pandora by Design: Sweaters from the Millyard
This Special exhibit ended August 31st, 2021
the next several decades became one of the major employers of the Queen City with as many as 1,000 people working for the company. Pandora maintained itself as a major sweater and sportswear maker, making as many as 60,000 sweaters per week, and was one of the last textile manufacturers to operate in Manchester's Millyard.EXHIBIT VIDEOS
The Special Exhibit, Manchester's Urban Ponds: Past, Present, and Future, closed on December 5, 2020. This exhibit took a look at the important role Manchester's ponds have played in the area's history and examined the history of several of Manchester’s urban ponds, including Crystal Lake, Dorrs Pond, Maxwell Pond, Nutts Pond, Pine Island Pond, and Stevens Pond and celebrated the accomplishments of the Urban Ponds Restoration Program over the last 20 years.
Sponsored by City of Manchester, Department of Public Works, Environmental Protection Division
Click here to see a video tour of the exhibit, led by Jen Drociak, Special Curator and MHA Board Member.
The Special Exhibit, Manchester and the Great War, closed on January 5, 2019. This exhibit took an in-depth look at the ways in which Manchester was affected by World War I. Click here to see a video tour of the exhibit, led by Daniel Peters, MHA Research and Facilities Manager.
The Special Exhibit, Doctor's Orders: Public Health in Manchester, closed on July 8, 2017. The exhibit explored the history of public health in Manchester, from smallpox to polio to the current issues facing the city. Click here to see a video of a tour of the exhibit, led by MHA Executive Director John Clayton.
The Special Exhibit, It's Showtime! A History of Manchester's Theaters, closed on January 14, 2017. The exhibit showcased the many iconic theaters from Manchester's past and present, including the Palace, State, Strand, Lyric, Modern, and many others. Click here to see a video of a tour of the exhibit, led by MHA Executive Director John Clayton.
People You Should Know...Portraits from the Collection - PDF of exhibit handout
Featuring fifteen portraits of men and women from Manchester by artists including Edward L. Custer, Burris Jenkins, Jr., Henry W. Herrick, Sidney Dickerson, George Soule, and Omer T. Lassonde.
New Hampshire Landscapes - Paintings from the Permanent Collection - PDF of exhibit handout
Featuring ten landscape paintings depicting scenes of Manchester and other areas of New Hampshire. Among the locations represented are Lake Massabesic, the Uncanoonuc Mountains, Rock Rimmon, and the Presidential Range. Several paintings also depict some of Manchester’s historical buildings, including the P. C. Cheney Paper Mill, the Smyth Mansion, the City Farm, and the Amoskeag Train Station. Local artists whose works are represented in the exhibit include Edward L. Custer, Henry W. Herrick, Omer T. Lassonde, Arch McDonnell, Frank French, and L. Luthy.
Visitor Orientation Center For the Amoskeag Millyard Scenic & Cultural Byway
Open most days during business hours
Free and open to the public (museum admission not required)
The Visitor Orientation Center features artifacts from the MHA collection, giant photo murals of the millyard at its height, and maps. The center introduces visitors to Manchester, the historic Amoskeag Millyard and the New Hampshire Scenic and Cultural Byway System.
Please note: The Manchester Historic Association is closed on some national holidays. Please call (603) 622-7531 with any questions.
