Belknap Mill

06/04/2026

We are so honored to have Franklin Savings Bank as a legacy sponsor. Their support plays a vital role in preserving and celebrating history! 💙

Franklin Savings Bank is excited to announce that it has committed to a Legacy Sponsorship of the Belknap Mill Museum’s 2026 season. This partnership is rich in historical significance and community support, while supporting the ongoing renovations of the Belknap Mill.

“We were really impressed by the recent renovations, breadth of community programs offered, and overall historical character that has been preserved at the Belknap Mill,” states Brian Bozak, President & CEO at Franklin Savings Bank. “We are excited to get involved and will also have a presence at the Mill After Hours event on August 7th. It’s these kinds of community events that really bring people together.”

To read the full press release click the link below:
https://bit.ly/3RIwUZz

In Photo from L – R: Brian Bozak, President & CEO, Franklin Savings Bank; Katherine Switala Elmhurst, PhD, Acting Executive Director of the Belknap Mill Society; Laura LeMien, Chairman of the Board, Belknap Mill Society.

Member FDIC

06/03/2026

🚗💨 What an incredible morning!

We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming the 2026 Eastern Steam Car Tour as one of their stops today—and what a sight it was!

These beautifully restored steam-powered cars are true pieces of history, and it was such a unique experience to have them here. From the gleaming details to the unmistakable charm of a different era, they turned plenty of heads and brought something really special to our day.

During their visit, the group also enjoyed a wonderful tour with Kathy Anderson, adding an extra special touch to their stop.

A big thank you to the 2026 Eastern Steam Car Tour for visiting and including us on your journey. We loved hosting you and hope to see you again on a future tour! 💙

06/02/2026

New museum hours are here! 💙

The Belknap Mill Museum is now open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 AM–4 PM. Stop by to explore the stories, innovation, and history that shaped Laconia and the Lakes Region.

Discover the Karagianis Gallery, Knitting Museum, Powerhouse Museum, Threads of Innovation exhibit, and more as you experience the Belknap Mill’s rich industrial and community heritage!

Join us for guided tours on Wednesdays at 11 AM and 1 PM, or schedule a tour online at your convenience.

Admission: $10 adults • $5 seniors & students • Mill members free

06/01/2026

☀️ It’s finally June, which means we officially kick off Mill After Hours this Friday!

While Dueling Pianos is full, the Mill will be open with free museum admission all day, and at 5pm Eva Switala joins us in the Riverside Gallery showcasing her Between Light and Root exhibit!

We hope to see you here enjoying the start of a great summer season! 💙

05/31/2026

💙 We had such a wonderful time at yesterday’s Needle Felting Workshop. Everyone jumped right in, learned new techniques, and created the sweetest felted blue birds!

If you’re feeling inspired, now’s the perfect time to reserve your spot for our next workshop — Berry Picking Basket Weaving. It’s a hands‑on class just in time for berry season! 🧺

05/29/2026

☀️ It’s a beautiful day in downtown Laconia — the perfect time to stop by the museum and then head out on the Laconia City Walk!

Explore the exhibits, enjoy the river, and make the most of this gorgeous day.

🕙 10AM – 4PM
🏛️Admission: $10 adults • $5 students & seniors • Members free

05/28/2026

✨ Mill After Hours returns for another season of summer evenings on the lawn ✨

Bring a chair, bring a friend, and settle in at the Belknap Mill for a relaxed night of music and community. There will be options to purchase food on‑site, and all events are BYOB (beer and wine only).

It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s one of the best ways to spend a warm evening in Laconia! 💙

See you on the lawn — for more information, go to belknapmill.org

05/27/2026

⚙️ Did you know…?

In the early days of the Belknap Mill, the gears that powered production used wooden teeth instead of steel. This wasn’t a shortcut—it was smart engineering! If a wooden tooth broke, it could be replaced individually and quickly, allowing the machinery to keep running with almost no interruption.

If the gears had been steel, even one damaged tooth would have forced the entire operation to shut down while a new gear was cast, shipped, and installed—a costly delay for a water‑powered mill that depended on constant motion.

Wooden teeth kept the Mill productive, repairable, and resilient. It’s a perfect example of the practical, resourceful innovation that powered early industry!

Stop by tomorrow or Friday from 10–4 to check it out yourself—or schedule a tour to dive even deeper into our history!

05/26/2026

We’re excited to welcome Eva Switala to the Mill as she showcases her "Between Light and Root" exhibition in our Riverside Gallery!

Join us for her opening gallery reception on Friday, June 5th during our Mill After Hours event!

Eva Switala is an environmental scientist and photographer whose work explores the evolving relationship between people and the natural world. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, she brings a scientific awareness to her artistic practice, observing how light, shadow, and landscape shape both ecosystems and identity.

As a Chinese American adoptee, Switala’s images move between personal and environmental narratives. Her photographs often dwell in moments of transition—where light filters through, where forms are partially obscured, where belonging is both rooted and in flux. Through this interplay, she reflects on what it means to exist between cultures, histories, and environments.

Between Light and Root captures these intersections, offering a visual language that is at once intimate and expansive—grounded in place, yet reaching toward questions of identity, memory, and connection.

05/25/2026

Remembering and honoring today. 🇺🇸💙

The Belknap Mill will be closed in observance of Memorial Day.