New England Ski Museum

New England Ski Museum Nonprofit museum. Free admission. New England Ski Museum has second location in North Conway, NH
(603)730-5044

Interactive Olympic exhibits
Preserve, protect, & inspire ski history
2 iconic locations in New Hampshire:
๐Ÿ“Franconia (next to the Tram at Cannon Mountain)
๐Ÿ“North Conway Village (next to the Conway Scenic Railroad)

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, the New England Ski Museum pauses to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

We hold a special place in our hearts for the soldiers of the legendary 10th Mountain Division and all service members who left their homes and families to defend our country, never to return. Their courage, sacrifice, and spirit are forever carved into our history.

Today, we remember. We honor. We are forever grateful.

05/21/2026

Looking for a graduation gift with a great story? We've curated our 2026 Ski History Graduation Gift Guide which is packed with unique ideas for the ski enthusiast in your life!

From deep-dive books on the legendary 10th Mountain Division to beautiful locally made items and New England Ski Museum memberships, thereโ€™s something special for every grad looking to carry their passion for the slopes into the next chapter.

Stop by our North Conway location or shop online at skimuseumstore.org

As a reminder our Franconia Branch is closed while we update our exhibit and renovate our theatre.

05/05/2026

Which came first: The 10th Mountain Division or the National Ski Patrol System Inc ? ๐Ÿค”โ„๏ธ

Most people guess the 10th Mountain Division, but the answer actually began on the slopes of Vermont.

In 1936, a broken ankle on Mt. Mansfield inspired Minnie Dole to envision a safer mountain, leading to the founding of the National Ski Patrol in 1938. Just a few years later, he used that same organization to convince the War Department that "soldiers on skis" were a tactical necessity.

In July of 1940, Minnie Dole first wrote to President Roosevelt offering the National Ski Patrol's help to recruit and train the troops. The 10th Mountain Division was formally activated in 1943.

The NSP didn't just pre-date the 10th Mountainโ€”they actually recruited them. As we celebrate Military Appreciation Month, we invite you to explore the legacy of these 'Soldiers on Skis' with us.

๐Ÿ“Want to learn more and see some of the original gear patrollers wore? Visit our North Conway location Friday-Monday. Our Franconia location will be closed through May while we update our exhibit and renovate our media room.

Spring is here, and we have some exciting and important updates for the month of May as we prepare for an exciting summe...
04/27/2026

Spring is here, and we have some exciting and important updates for the month of May as we prepare for an exciting summer season.

๐Ÿ“ Franconia: CLOSED for May
Our Franconia location will be closed for the entire month of May for some major spring cleaning and renovations! We are:
โžก๏ธAdding a brand-new exhibit.
โžก๏ธRevamping the Lowell Thomas Theater and include a space for a new library and reading room.

๐Ÿ“Our North Conway branch is open and ready for your visit!
Friday โ€“ Monday: 11:00 AM โ€“ 5:00 PM
Tuesday โ€“ Thursday: Closed

Online Store: ALWAYS OPEN
Can't make it to North Conway? You can support the museum from anywhere! Our online store is open and we have historic books, gifts for grads, prints, and new items coming in every week.
We look forward to welcoming you back to the revitalized space in June!

Summer Sneak Peek:
Get ready for our new "Ski Stories" oral history project and a monthly Speaker Series launching in late June/early July.

Be sure to follow us on social media and check out our website for more details.

https://vist.ly/4z2me

We wanted to throw it back to our 29th annual Schneider Cup was one for the history books, bringing together fresh snow,...
04/02/2026

We wanted to throw it back to our 29th annual Schneider Cup was one for the history books, bringing together fresh snow, blue skies, and a shared passion for our skiing heritage.

It was an honor to celebrate the legacies of Hannes Schneider and the 10th Mountain Division alongside Governor Kelly Ayotte and our incredible local ski community.

A quick look at the results:

Top Teams: A huge congrats to the Bob Forcier Ski Team for taking the top spot, followed by Cranmore I and Magic 104.

The Pacesetters: Individual honors went to Kamden Burke (fastest male) and Olympian Leanne Smith (fastest female).

Grand Marshal: We were excited to honor Linda Bradshaw, who retired in 2025, for her 25 years of dedicated service to the New England Ski Museum.

Spirit of the Sport: From the Bavarian Brothers' music to the "Dunkinโ€™ Donuts" crew winning the vintage attire parade, the festive spirit was unmatched.

Didn't make it to the mountain? The celebration continues at the New England Ski Museum. The special Hannes Schneider tribute film produced by Good Choice Media is screening on a continuous loop throughout the rest of the month. Stop by our North Conway location to relive the history.

Read the full recap by the The Conway Daily Sun, the link is in our comments below.

03/29/2026

๐ŸŒช๏ธโœจ Weโ€™re having our own "Wizard of Oz" moment at the Museums!

In 1939, Dorothy Gale stepped out of the sepia-toned farmhouse and into a world of "living color." ๐ŸŒˆ That same year, legendary skimeister Hannes Schneider arrived in North Conway, changing American skiing forever.

We always picture the pioneer era of skiing (the 30s, 40s, and 50s) through a grainy, monochrome lens. Now, itโ€™s time to see the "Wonderland of Winter Sports" as it truly wasโ€”full of life, laughter, and color! โ›ท๏ธ

We are thrilled to host a limited-time screening of "Once Upon a Time," a stunning, 11-minute film produced by Good Choice Media.

Why you cannot miss this:
โœ… See the REAL "Oz" Effect of the pioneer era in rare, restored color.
โœ… Watch Hannes Schneider share a candid laugh (and a sneeze!) and catch 1939 Inferno champ Toni Matt checking out ski wax. ๐Ÿคฉ
โœ… From the Skimobile to the vibrant energy of the Eastern Slope Ski School, this is history like youโ€™ve never seen it.

Stop by and experience this side of history at both of our locations:
๐Ÿ“ North Conway Branch: 2628 White Mountain Highway open Friday-Monday, 11am-5pm, closed Easter Sunday
๐Ÿ“ Franconia Notch Branch: 135 Tramway Drive (Next to the Cannon Tram) Open Friday, Saturday and Monday 11am-4pm

Admission is free (donations gratefully accepted and help us continue to share these colorful pieces of history). Come see why it's called it the "Wonderland of Winter Sports!"

03/25/2026

Anyone else feel nostalgic this time of year? Between the spring skiing, pond skims, and throwback days, the "Golden Age" of skiing is everywhere right now. โ›ท๏ธ

We took a deep dive into that history at the ๐๐ž๐ฐ ๐„๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐ ๐’๐ค๐ข ๐Œ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐…๐ซ๐š๐ง๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐š and here's 5 reasons why itโ€™s a must-visit:

โ›ท๏ธYou can learn about the 10th Mountain Division veterans who built our favorite ski areas and founded the National Ski Patrol System Inc

โš”๏ธYou can see authentic WWII artifacts, including Benito Mussolini's ceremonial sword that was given to Minnie Dole

๐ŸŽฟ Duncan Cullmanโ€™s Skis: The actual signed pair from his 1969 Inferno Race win (and he was right there behind me in the video!)

๐Ÿฅ‡ Find inspiration from local U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team legends like Mikaela Shiffrin: See her Golden Ski Award on display. We even found a photo of the GOAT herself standing in front of this same exhibit before she was a household name! Perfect timing since she just clinched her record-tying 6th Crystal Globe today!

๐Ÿ† โ€™s Medals: Seeing his 5 Olympic medals up close is surreal (local Franconia and Cannon Mountain legend!)

๐Ÿ“ Check out the New England Ski Museum in ๐…๐ซ๐š๐ง๐œ๐จ๐ง๐ข๐š, ๐๐‡ & ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐š๐ฒ, ๐๐‡

What's your favorite spring skiing memory? Share in the comments!๐Ÿ‘‡

A Heartfelt Thank You from all of us at the New England Ski Museum! โ„๏ธ๐Ÿ†What an incredible weekend at the Hannes Schneide...
03/17/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You from all of us at the New England Ski Museum! โ„๏ธ๐Ÿ†

What an incredible weekend at the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup! We are still buzzing from the energy and tradition shared on the mountain.

We want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who made this event possible:

To our Volunteers: You are the engine of this museum. From registration to the finish line, thank you for your tireless hours and for helping us put every piece of this puzzle together.

To the 10th Mountain Division, Veterans, and descendants: It was a true honor to have you join us. Your presence brings a profound depth to this tradition, and we are grateful for your continued support in honoring the history of the "Soldiers on Skis."

To our Patrons: Thank you to everyone who participated in our festivities, including cheering on the racers, the Vintage Fashion show, and our Silent Auction. Your bids directly support our mission to preserve the history and heritage of skiing.

To our sponsors and donors: This event is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and your support is crucial for preserving ski history. A special thank you to everyone who donated to our silent auction, and helped us to make this event possible!

Check out some of the highlights from this weekend courtesy of the New England Ski Museum, ๐Ÿ“ธRachel Sharples at The Conway Daily Sun, and ๐Ÿ“ธ Jeannie Cafarelli of Conway Broadcasting Group.

Missed the festivities? If you werenโ€™t able to make it this weekend but still want to help us preserve ski history, there are three easy ways to get involved today:

๐Ÿ“ Visit Us: Stop by one of our two locations (North Conway or Franconia Notch).

๐Ÿค Become a Member: Join our community of history enthusiasts.

๐ŸŽ Donate: Every contribution helps us keep the stories of the slopes alive for the next generation.

Thank you for being part of our story!

Thank you Governor Kelly Ayotte for joining us at the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup!
03/15/2026

Thank you Governor Kelly Ayotte for joining us at the Hannes Schneider Meister Cup!

Address

135 Tramway Drive
Franconia, NH
03580

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+16038237177

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