Fort Dummer model at Brattleboro History Center
The Brattleboro Historical Society will unveil its new downtown History Center with a preview opening featuring special hours during June’s first-Friday Gallery Walk and Strolling of the Heifers weekend.
The new center on the first floor of the Masonic building at 196 Main St. (with a separate south-side entrance and rear-door wheelchair ramp) will feature the first of a series of changing exhibits — starting with a look at local agricultural history, farm life and the former Valley Fair — on Friday, June 7, from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to noon.
Since its founding in 1982, the Brattleboro Historical Society has worked to shelter and share locally significant facts and artifacts so present and future generations can learn from the past.
The volunteer-run nonprofit hopes its new History Center will give residents and organizations the opportunity to explore their local heritage and add to the variety and vitality of downtown by collaborating on permanent and changing exhibits and ongoing public talks, workshops and other programs.
After the weekend preview, the History Center will be open for regular hours on Thursdays and Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 to 3 p.m.
(The society’s research room — housing a two-century collection of records, photographs and bound newspapers on the third floor of the town Municipal Center at 230 Main St. — will continue to be open Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and by appointment.)
People seeking more information about the society, its Municipal Center collections and the new History Center can call (802) 258-4957 or email [email protected].