Guided Walking Tours
Offered May – October
Loyal Subjects
Discover the steadfast loyal subjects of England living on South Main Street, Keene, surrounding the Wyman Tavern. Coming from different backgrounds were, Dr. Josiah Pomeroy, Major Josiah Willard, and Abner Sanger. Why might they have supported the King and not their neighbors?
What risks and rewards might they encounter? Meet at the tavern and come inside to the Tap Room to learn more about why these three men might have chosen not to fight against mother England. None of them were tarred and feathered!
Patriotic Stroll
Seven Keene men who supported the Lexington and Concord alarm and what followed will be discussed as we walk down lower Main Street where five of the seven lived. Would you have dropped everything and left your family to walk to Cambridge to support the patriot cause? The British Regulars were not threatening Keene!
We’ll walk down past the location of the old fort and hear details about a few of these men who lived here in 1775. Patriots Eliakim Nims, Luke Metcalf and Dan Guild. Learn about Ephraim Dorman and Thomas Baker, Jr., good friends who supported the cause but stayed in Keene.
Our last stop is at Wyman’s Tavern, home to father and son patriots, Isaac Wyman Sr. and Isaac Wyman Jr. How did they and their patriot neighbors’ weather the war?
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.
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.