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Upcoming Events

All events are located at the Pierce Manse unless otherwise noted.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Professional storyteller Sharon Wood will present the living history program, A Tribute to Sarah Josepha Hale. This program is underwritten by a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities Council.

Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Join us at the Mary Baker Eddy Historic House on 62 North State Street in Concord to see their completed renovations and learn about Mary Baker Eddy's life in Concord. RSVP required to (603) 225-4555 by Friday, May 23, 2008.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:00 a.m.
The Pierce Manse opens for the 2008 season! Come view our newly renovated barn, which includes an exciting new exhibition about Franklin Pierce and a changing exhibition gallery examining the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.

Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Dr. Peter Wallner, author of the recently published biographies about Franklin Pierce, will speak about the relationship between Franklin Pierce and his long-time friend Nathaniel Hawthorne. Dr. Wallner will be available after his lecture to sign copies of the Pierce biographies.

Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Pierce Brigade member and well-known theater artist Virginia Gerseny will give a dramatic presentation of Dolly Madison, former First Lady and wife of President James Madison.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: The Currier Museum of Art will present an Art Talk From Anonymous to Aponovich: New Hampshire History and Art. The illustrated presentation depicts New Hampshire through artwork from the Currier's permanent collection that captures the daily life and geography in the Granite State.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Jere Daniell, Professor of History Emeritus at Dartmouth College, will speak about Revolutionary New Hampshire, from 1776 to 1795.

Thursday, October 23, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Lecture Series: Pierce Brigade President, Nancy Hartford, will present an slide lecture illustrating the changing styles of American furniture, 1620-1840.

Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 2:30 p.m.
Pierce Brigade Member's Business Meeting

**Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at 10 a.m.
Annual Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Old North Cemetery, North State Street, Concord, NH. Every year, the United States President sends a wreath to the gravesite of former President Pierce to commemorate his birthday on November 23rd. Participants include the New Hampshire National Guard, the New Hampshire Governor's Horse Guards, and 4th grade students from Walker School. A reception at the Manse follows the ceremony. **TENTATIVE DATE - PLEASE CHECK BACK

Sunday, December 7, 2008 from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
Annual Holiday Open House at the Pierce Manse. Come explore how the Pierce family celebrated the holidays over 150 years ago. The Franklin Pierce University Singers will provide musical entertainment at 3 p.m. to get you in the spirit of the season! Admission is free; refreshments will be served.

The Pierce Manse will open for the 2008 season on Tuesday, June 17, 2008. TOURS ARE ON THE HOUR, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 2 p.m. Closed on major holidays. Tours may be arranged by appointment year-round by calling (603) 225-4555.

Come learn about life during the mid-19th century and New Hampshire’s only President, Franklin Pierce! As the only historic house museum in Concord, New Hampshire that is open to the public, the Manse provides a glimpse of what family life was like over 150 years ago for Franklin Pierce, his wife Jane, and their two young children. Guided tours of the home are available seasonally from mid-June through October. School and group tours are available year-round by appointment, and outreach programs for students and adults can be scheduled on topics such as mid-19th century life, Franklin Pierce, and New Hampshire presidential primary history.

The Franklin Pierce Manse opened to the public in 1974, after the all-volunteer Pierce Brigade saved the home from demolition. The Manse affiliated with the New Hampshire Political Library in 2004. Both organizations are committed to telling the story of New Hampshire political history through educational programs, events, and exhibitions. The Library, founded in 1997, documents and preserves the political traditions of New Hampshire, including the first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The Library houses and manages the most extensive archive of political memorabilia in the country, a portion of which can be seen at www.politicallibrary.org.

Did You Know...

Franklin left to fight in the Mexican War on May 13, 1847 after an emotional send-off from a large group of Concord citizens. He made a brief address to the crowd, stating "I will come back with honor, or I will not come back at all." After participating in two major battles, Franklin came home on January 27, 1848.