About Us

Established by Annie E. Woodman to advance and develop passion for history, nature, and the arts.

The Woodman Museum was founded in 1916 from a trust established by Annie E. Woodman to: “To advance and develop passion for History, Nature, and the Arts. To educate, excite, and inspire current and future generations about . . . a changing nation by preserving and exhibiting objects of historic significance, decorative and fine art, and natural science that connect Dover and its citizens to . . . the world.”

A visit to the Woodman offers an intimate and personal opportunity for visitors to explore and experience history, natural sciences, and the arts.

On the grounds of the Woodman Museum you will find the oldest Sycamore Tree in Strafford County, a Medicinal & Industrial Garden designed and installed by Strafford County Master Gardeners and a functioning Rain Garden installed several years ago in cooperation with Soak NH, the EPA, NHDES, Strafford County Master Gardeners and other local volunteers, two auxiliary exhibit sheds housing a Civil War Cannon exhibit for our 1863 12lbs Bronze-Napoleon cannon, and a Victorian funeral exhibit complete with an 1890s horse-drawn hearse.

Our Four Historic Houses

1813

The Hale House

The John Parker Hale House tells the story of one of America’s foremost Abolitionists and informs visitors of the socioeconomic history of Dover, primarily from the 19th-century mills and textile designs that traveled the world.

1818

The Woodman House

The Woodman House holds the Museum’s collection of rocks, minerals, fossils, and taxidermy specimens (animals, aquatic life, birds, and butterflies).

1675

The Damm Garrison House

The Damm Garrison House is the oldest house in Dover and contains galleries displaying local Colonial and Early American history.

1825

The Keefe House

The Keefe House contains our library, where we store our collection of the city records of Dover, as well as the Thom Hindle Art Gallery and administration offices.

Our Team and Board of Directors

Jonathan Nichols
Executive Director 
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Mike Day
Operations Director & Curator
op********@***********um.org

John Cookson
Operations Manager & Collections Manager
co*********@***********um.org

Richard Price
Development Director
de*********@***********um.org

Lexi McNew
Museum Docent

Allyne McDonough
Museum Docent

Donna Beaudoin
Administrator
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Brylye Collins
Board Chair

Amy Warnock
Board Vice Chair

Open
Secretary

Zane Angelopodos
Treasurer

Board Members
Jeffrey Dickinson
Dr. Kimberly Alexander
Kathryn Mone

© Copyright 2025 l Woodman Museum, Dover, NH l Website Design by Tap House Media

Hale House Continued...

Born in nearby Rochester NH, John Parker Hale is best known as the first avowed Abolitionist Senator in the United States. It is an odd irony that, in the two decades Hale was in the Senate, Dover profited from the manufacture of cotton products that were produced by Southern slave labor. Living in William’s own house, Hale took a solid stand against slavery - a position that earned him enmity from Southern leaders, even a death threat on the Senate floor from a colleague. It also earned Hale a statue in 1892 on the lawn of the state capitol in Concord, NH, where his figure now stands with Daniel Webster, President Franklin Pierce and John Stark.

Today, the collections throughout two of the three floors of the Hale House are arranged into galleries displaying Hale Family artifacts, local and regional history, New England period furniture, fine and decorative arts and more.

Woodman House Continued...

The younger Charles Woodman inherited the estate from his mother. A successful financier and manager of the Strafford Savings Bank, he resided here throughout his life. He married twice: his first wife, Hannah (Coffin) Woodman, died in 1854 and in 1856 he married Annie (Allen) Woodman. When she died in January 1915, Annie Woodman left the sum of $100,000 “for the establishment …of an institution for the promotion of education in science and art and the increase and dissemination of general and especially historical knowledge.” The trustees of the estate acquired the Woodman house and the adjoining Hale House, which by chance came on the market that same year. The renovation of the interior was directed by local architect J. Edward Richardson, and the Institute opened in July, 1916.

Today, the collections throughout the three floors of the Woodman House are arranged into galleries displaying natural science (mounted specimens, rocks and minerals, fossils, seashells), Native American culture, military history, “childhood” history (schools, Scouting, toys, games and dolls), seasonal themed exhibits and more.

Damm Garrison House Continued...

In 1915, Col. Daniel Hall (the founding Head Trustee of the Woodman Museum) had an interview with Mrs. Rounds and broached the matter of having the garrison and its contents removed to the grounds of the Woodman Museum. The proposition proved to be acceptable to her; in due time she made a formal gift of the Damm garrison to the Museum. Daniel Chesley was entrusted with the task of removing the house to its new home; it took him one week, using wooden rollers and a horse, to move the garrison to the grounds. Local architect J. Edward Richardson directed the construction of the protective outer “colonnade” building that surronds and protects the garrison currently.

Today, the collections throughout the two floors of the William Damm Garrison House are arranged into galleries displaying local Colonial and Early American history.

Keefe House & Carriage Barn Continued...

Today, the first floor of the Keefe House (the Thom Hindle Gallery) features rotating artist and artisan exhibitions throughout the year. The second floor of the Keefe House (the Robert Whitehouse Library) serves as administrative offices and a climate controlled archive. The attached two story Carriage Barn houses local and regional transportation, trades, farm, and household collections.

Keefe House & Carriage Barn Continued...

Today, the first floor of the Keefe House (the Thom Hindle Gallery) features rotating artist and artisan exhibitions throughout the year. The second floor of the Keefe House (the Robert Whitehouse Library) serves as administrative offices and a climate controlled archive. The attached two story Carriage Barn houses local and regional transportation, trades, farm, and household collections.