Exeter Historical Society

Exeter Historical Society Exeter, New Hampshire...we bring its rich history to life. We are a recipient of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce's 2011 Business of the Year Award!

For over 80 years the Exeter Historical Society has been collecting artifacts from Exeter’s past ... and its present. Our collections illustrate the town’s rich and fascinating history, its residents, and ultimately its place in the larger history of both the state and the nation. A non-profit organization, the Exeter Historical Society offers regular programs of local historical interest and is a

repository for documents, maps, photos, artifacts, and other ephemera pertaining to Exeter, New Hampshire. We maintain a research library, act as a resource for genealogical research, co-sponsor historical events and publications, create exhibits hoping to encourage historic preservation, and document today’s events as the history of tomorrow.

While we won’t be wearing any of our actual historic clothing collection to the Sweet Liberty Soirée, we’re certainly ta...
06/16/2026

While we won’t be wearing any of our actual historic clothing collection to the Sweet Liberty Soirée, we’re certainly taking inspiration from it! 💃🏼See the link in our bio for tickets! 🎟️

Will you join us by becoming a member today? (Or by renewing your membership, if you already support us?) Alongside the ...
06/16/2026

Will you join us by becoming a member today? (Or by renewing your membership, if you already support us?) Alongside the history many already know, every day we work to bring forward voices too often left out—so our town’s past reflects all who have called Exeter home.

Join today at

Happy Flag Day! 🇺🇸 This holiday commemorates the day that the United States adopted the official U.S. flag. Popular hist...
06/14/2026

Happy Flag Day! 🇺🇸 This holiday commemorates the day that the United States adopted the official U.S. flag. Popular historical myth has long credited Betsy Ross as the official designer, but unfortunately, that story doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. While it’s true that Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross sewed flags for the Pennsylvania navy, the story of congressmen gathering in her shop and approving her design is flimsy at best. The only record we have of such a story happening is from her grandson William Carby, who delivered this story to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1870. It is much more likely that Francis Hopkinson, a New Jersey congressman, originated the design. He also designed the Great Seal of the United States, the treasury seal, and much of the iconography on currency at the time. Without concrete evidence for either, however, it is difficult to say who really designed the first flag. Either way, happy 249th birthday to the American flag! 🎉🎇
Source: “The Truth About Betsy Ross” by Ed Crews, The Colonial Williamsburg Journal

06/09/2026

The Exeter Historical Society requests the honor of your company as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Come and enjoy beautiful tablescapes with historical themes while libations and light fare are served. Dress for your favorite decade or wear festive attire!

Join us on Saturday, July 11th at 7 PM at the historic Fort Rock Farm, more information: https://www.exeterhistory.org/events/2026/7/11/sweet-liberty-soiree

06/08/2026

In the early years of the Republic, one of the few ways girls could make their mark for posterity was to embroider a sampler. The piece demonstrated their embroidery skills and usually included their name, the year, and their age at the time. In this episode, Barbara shares many of the samplers in the Society's collection and what we know about the young women who made them.

Happy 90th birthday to Peter Smith, member, emeritus Trustee, and donor of the Glass Plate Negative Collection! 🎉🎂 We ar...
05/29/2026

Happy 90th birthday to Peter Smith, member, emeritus Trustee, and donor of the Glass Plate Negative Collection! 🎉🎂 We are so grateful to be able to share these snapshots of the past with Exeter; and for Peter’s support. 📸

Dearest Gentle Readers, You are cordially invited to the Sweet Liberty Soirée, a festive event to celebrate the 250th an...
05/26/2026

Dearest Gentle Readers,
You are cordially invited to the Sweet Liberty Soirée, a festive event to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country. Guests are invited to don themselves in apparel reminiscent of any part of the Historic Past. The price of admission will help renovate our lower level Exhibit space, so that we may all enjoy relics of the past for generations to come. Tickets may be purchased on our website, and each ticket purchase includes a one year membership to the Exeter Historical Society for our new members.
We dearly hope to be graced with your presence.
Sincerely,
The Exeter Historical Society 📜🖊️

“Patriotic” and “Memorial” greetings from us at Exeter! We’re thankful to all the women and men in our armed forces toda...
05/25/2026

“Patriotic” and “Memorial” greetings from us at Exeter! We’re thankful to all the women and men in our armed forces today, and remember fondly those who have passed. 🇺🇸

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month! Here is a photo of Chin Lee Laundry, a Chine...
05/04/2026

Happy Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month! Here is a photo of Chin Lee Laundry, a Chinese owned business, on Water Street at the turn of the century. Can you guess where that would be present-day? 🔍

Address

47 Front Street; PO Box 924
Exeter, NH
03833

Opening Hours

Tuesday 2pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 2pm - 4:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 12pm

Telephone

(603) 778-2335

Website

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