Annie E. Woodman Institute - Woodman Museum

Preserving the Past, Looking to the Future

The Woodman Museum is more than a museum, it’s a living archive of New England history. Founded in 1916, our mission is to educate, engage, and inspire through one of the most unique and authentic museum experiences in New Hampshire. Located in the heart of Dover, the oldest permanent settlement in the state, the museum spans four historic homes and holds thousands of artifacts that tell the story of our region’s past, from the colonial era to the present day.

At the center of our campus is the 1813 Hale House, a stunning example of 19th-century Federal architecture and once home to U.S. Senator John Parker Hale, a pioneering abolitionist. Its walls have witnessed pivotal moments in American history, and like many centuries-old structures, it now requires thoughtful preservation to survive the next hundred years.

This NH Gives, we’re asking for your help with a vital piece of that work: saving one of the Hale House’s original three-story chimneys. Years of New England weather have left the brick vulnerable to water infiltration, threatening the structural integrity of the home. Your donation will fund the application of a commercial-grade, water-based ChimneySaver treatment, specifically designed for historic masonry, to protect this architectural treasure from further decay.

Historic preservation is about more than just buildings. It’s about honoring the people who lived, worked, and shaped the communities we live in today. By supporting this project, you’re helping to preserve one of New Hampshire’s most significant historic homes and ensuring that future generations can continue to walk these halls, explore our collections, and connect with the stories that make this region extraordinary.

Dover's history.  A legacy worth saving.

Who We Are

We educate and inspire current and future generations about Dover, NH's role in a changing nation by preserving and exhibiting objects of historic significance, decorative and fine art, and natural science that connect our visitors to local, national, and world events. In four historic houses (earliest built in 1675), we work with school groups and the public to share formative examples of human history, as well as display artifacts that encourage investigation of the dizzying array of coping mechanisms in the natural world, accompanied by parallel explorations of human culture through the arts.