Kingston to Award Boston Post Cane
Welcome to the Kingston Historical Museum, the proud keeper of Kingston History, a center for genealogical research (Link to page on genealogical research) and keeper of a rich archive of historical records. Our museum is a robust collection of information, photographs, maps, letters, oral histories and precious objects from Kingston, like the four-poster bed circa 1700s from the Josiah Bartlett Homestead, a carriage built right here in Kingston in 1890, and a 200-year-old loom. We are open to the public and welcome you to visit to learn about the vital role the Town of Kingston played in the growth and development of New Hampshire and the New England region.
Even our building is an historic and architectural gem. Sitting in the village center of Kingston, the museum building was designed by Dwight and Chandler of Boston and built in1898 as a gift to the town by Kingston native J. Howard Nichols, a Boston industrialist and philanthropist.
The stone and Shingle style building is recognized across New Hampshire as the only local library built in the Shingle architectural style with Richardsonian Romanesque features, named after Henry Hobson Richardson, architect of Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston and other renowned buildings. It features a red slate hip roof and stained-glass transoms and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many local residents call the building the Nichols Memorial Library. It housed the library until it moved to new quarters in 2012.
In addition to the historic 1898 Nichols Memorial Library building, our museum preserves a complex of buildings in Kingston including the 1833 Grace Daley Barn, 1880's Cobbler Shop, 1895 Firehouse, and the 1907 Tramp House.
2026 holds special celebrations, as the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Kingston native Josiah Bartlett was a signer of the Declaration, and we will have celebrations to recognize him throughout the month of July. You can learn more about the distinguished Josiah Bartlett at the museum.
We are open at various times throughout the month (see below), but Wednesdays are an especially good time to visit. Volunteers are on hand to help you tour the exhibits or find information about your family or historic home. You can view the interior hand carved woodwork, restored stained glass windows and massive stone fireplace, learn about local history, research family history, and exchange Kingston stories.
If you are looking for something interesting to do, consider volunteering with us! There are many opportunities to immerse yourself in the fascinating history and meet interesting people. You can volunteer Wednesday mornings 9am to noon, or as often as practical for 2 - 4 hours at a time.
The Museum has a core staff of five volunteers and a part-time professional archivist and we always need specific talents and skills! Some of the volunteer opportunities include:
- Writing articles and blogs
- Reorganizing historic documents and scrapbooks
- Photography
- Scanning documents
- Processing collected items (tagging and measuring objects)
- Creating rotating exhibits
- Serving on the Museum Town Committee
- Planning programs and events for weeknights/weekends
If you are interested in getting involved, please call Ruth Albert at 603 -642-5508 or email us at museuminfo [at] kingstonnh.org (museuminfo[at]kingstonnh[dot]org).
Kingston was featured on NH Chronicle and focused on Kingston's history as a hub of the carriage manufacturing industry.
Click here to check it out!
| Museum Hours | |
| Wednesdays: | 8:00 AM-12 PM |
| 1st Tuesday of the month: | 6:15-6:45 PM |
| 2nd Saturday of the month, year-round: | 1:00-4:00 PM |
| Entire Complex Hours | |
| Entire Complex Open April-November | 1:00-4:00 PM |
| 2nd Saturday of the Month |
Tours can be arranged by calling Ruth Albert at 603-642-5508 or by museuminfo [at] kingstonnh.org (email).
Photo by Bruce Goodwin
Directions
Kingston Historical Museum
169 Main Street
Kingston, NH 03848