New Hampshire is rich in Native American history, particularly that of the Abenaki people, who have lived in the region for over 12,000 years. Here are eight places where you can explore and learn about this heritage:
1. Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (Warner)
This museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing Native American culture from across North America, with a special focus on the Abenaki people. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring artifacts, walk the Medicine Woods Trail to learn about indigenous plant uses, and enjoy the Betsy Janeway Arboretum. The museum also hosts workshops and events that celebrate Native traditions.
2. Strawbery Banke Museum – Abenaki Heritage Initiative (Portsmouth)
The Abenaki Heritage Initiative at Strawbery Banke Museum enriches the stories of the Seacoast region’s Indigenous peoples. It features exhibits like “People of the Dawnland,” showcasing Abenaki culture, arts, and storytelling traditions. Visitors can also see a reconstructed wigwam and use an augmented reality app to explore Abenaki lifeways.
3. Abenaki Trails Project (Various Locations)
This initiative highlights significant Native American sites across New Hampshire, such as the Indian Tie Up in Henniker and sacred mineral springs in Bradford. The project aims to educate visitors about the enduring presence of Native Americans in the state through guided tours and art installations.
4. Indigenous Dover (Dover)
Dover acknowledges its Indigenous history with land acknowledgments displayed at public locations. The city provides resources to educate visitors about the Pennacook, Wabanaki, and Abenaki peoples who have stewarded the land for millennia.
5. People of the Dawnland Exhibit (Strawbery Banke Museum)
This interactive exhibit dives deeper into Abenaki foodways, arts, and storytelling traditions. It offers an engaging way to learn about how these traditions have evolved while remaining connected to their roots.
6. Homelands Augmented Reality Experience (Strawbery Banke Museum)
Using augmented reality technology, this app brings Abenaki history to life as visitors explore Strawbery Banke. It’s a modern way to connect with Indigenous lifeways of the past, present, and future.
7. Sacred Sites Along the Abenaki Trails
Sites like the Indian Tie Up rock formation in Henniker or old chimneys tied to Native culture in Hopkinton offer a glimpse into places where Indigenous people lived and thrived for centuries.
8. Land Acknowledgment Plaques (Statewide)
Many locations across New Hampshire now feature plaques that honor the traditional homelands of the Abenaki people. These plaques serve as a reminder of their enduring presence and contributions to New Hampshire’s history.
These destinations provide meaningful opportunities to learn about New Hampshire’s Native American heritage while honoring the traditions and resilience of its Indigenous communities.
Sources
- https://newengland.com/travel/new-england/explore-native-american-history-at-these-new-england-museums/
- https://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Arts/2021/0615/We-still-live-here-Native-Americans-affirm-their-New-Hampshire-roots
- https://www.indianmuseum.org/history
- https://www.dover.nh.gov/indigenous/
- https://www.strawberybanke.org/abenaki-heritage-initiative
