The Pierce Manse, the historic Concord home of New Hampshire’s only U.S. President, Franklin Pierce, will re-open starting July 1 for small group guided tours by appointment through October. Visitors and tour guides alike are required to wear a face covering and to follow social distancing guidelines during the tour. Franklin Pierce was President of the United States from 1853 to 1857 and is the only New Hampshire resident to be elected to the country’s highest office. Visitors to the Pierce Manse, Pierce’s Concord home, will learn about what life was like in the mid-19th century for Franklin Pierce, his wife Jane, and their two sons. “The Manse is operated by the all-volunteer Pierce Brigade and much of our membership is in the high risk population for COVID-19. It was a collective decision to re-open the Manse for scheduled tours because we believe in the importance of making the home of New Hampshire’s only President available to the public,” said Joan Woodhead, President of the Pierce Brigade. “We are grateful in advance for our visitors’ respect and compliance with the health and safety measures we’re implementing that will protect everyone during their visit.” The Pierce Manse is located at 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane in Concord. For more information on how to schedule a tour, visit piercemanse.org.
The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner is excited to reopen on July 1. Temporary hours of operation will be Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The museum will be closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and July 4, but staff members hope to return to their regular schedule later in the summer. Volunteers at the museum have been busy cleaning and preparing for the reopening and the safety of visitors. Adhering to the new state guidelines on social distancing, tours will now be self-guided, which will allow visitors to spend more time at galleries of particular interest. A detailed tour brochure and new signs will explain the artifacts and displays. “A reservation system will help us ensure ample social distancing between groups, so we’re asking visitors to please call ahead or email us to reserve their tour. Also, if they purchase tickets online, it will help provide a contactless visit,” said Director Andy Bullock. The museum’s phone number is 456-2600 and the email address is deputydirector@indianmuseum.org. Face masks will be mandatory inside the museum, and disposable masks are available to those who need one. Hand sanitizer is also available at multiple locations. The Medicine Woods Trail and Arboretum are open to visitors free of charge every day. “We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, and we’ve worked hard to ensure a safe and memorable tour. Visitors will travel back in time, learning about pre-historic to contemporary Native American life across the continent,” Bullock said. For more information about what the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum offers, visit their website at indianmuseum.org.
The Loon Preservation Committee is happy to announce the reopening of The Loon Center to visitors on July 1. We are currently working on preparations to ensure the safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers. We will be implementing several changes to our daily operations as well as asking that visitors follow a few simple guidelines during their visit. All staff will be following CDC recommendations and guidelines with regards to increased cleaning frequency, the wearing of face masks, and monitoring their own health for COVID-19 symptoms. The picnic area on the screen porch will be closed to the public. Curbside pickup is available for online orders (loon.org/shop, select local pick-up when you place your order). Do to continuing concerns about COVID-19, our hands-on children’s activities will be unavailable for the time being. Children’s activity and coloring sheets are available upon request for your enjoyment at home after your visit. Visitors are asked to ring the doorbell for entry, wear a mask for the duration of the visit, stay six feet away from others and not to come if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19. There will be a limit of six visitors at a time and the restrooms will not be available (a portable toilet is located near the trailhead).
The Laconia Parks & Recreation Department has lowered capacity level for Endicott Rock Park (Weirs Beach) beginning Saturday. It has been reduced to 400 people in the park at any one time. The department is asking everyone wishing to be at the beach to continue following the proper social distancing guidelines. The beach open at 7 a.m daily. Beach caretakers will enforce capacity and rules.