Guided Walking Tours
Offered May – October
Magical History Tours
In June 2019, over 200 Walldogs artists descended on the city of Keene to paint 16 historically-themed murals across its cityscape in a matter of 3 days. Let our guides share the story of that event and the stories behind the murals.
Badass Women of Keene Tour
Delve into the history of the women’s suffrage movement from a local perspective. This history-on-the-streets experience highlights empowered women from the community and shares one city’s involvement with a national movement.
Railroad History Tour
How did the coming of the railroad impact New England communities like Keene, NH? Walk the Cheshire Railtrail through downtown Keene with Historical Society of Cheshire County executive director Alan Rumrill. Learn about the arrival of Keene’s first train in 1848. Visit the sites where many industrial firms found success along the tracks in the downtown area.
Join historian and Historical Society of Cheshire County storyteller Becky Barton for a leisurely 1-hour stroll along the shaded sidewalks of South Main Street. Explore the true stories of people who contributed to the prosperity of the families they worked for in Keene. Who were the domestic servants? How long did they work? Which families benefited from their labors!? Tours begin at the Historical Society’s headquarters, the Ball Mansion at 246 Main Street. Free parking is located behind the building in the designated HSCC parking spaces. Wear comfortable shoes for this easy footing, guided tour.
Learn about the effect that smallpox had on Keene residents in the 18th century with historian and professional storyteller Becky Barton. Visitors will take a guided tour of the Wyman Tavern Museum on South Main street and discover what steps were taken to try and keep the community safe, prior to Americans knowing about germ theory and transmission. Discover who had the pox and how it affected our region’s soldiers during the American Revolution. Free parking is available along Bruder Street in Historical Society designated spaces. This is a one-hour guided tour in a historic house museum.
Walking tour tickets:
Historical Society of Cheshire County Events | Eventbrite
Self-Guided Walking Tours
A Walk through Keene’s History
Let Franklin School’s 3rd graders guide you through downtown Keene with this audio tour!
Barry Faulkner Tours
Take a self-guided walking tour of downtown Keene to see some hand-painted murals and drawings by artist Barry Faulkner. (subject to open hours of businesses included on the tour)
Group Tour Information Click Here
Let our expert guides take you on a ‘history-on-the-streets” experience. Plan a guided walking tour for 6-15 people by contacting the Historical Society’s director of education Jennifer Carroll at 603.352.1895 or email jcarroll@hsccnh.org.