NATIVE AMERICAN & COLONIAL HISTORY

Early Life in Haverhill

Students get a look at what life was like for the first people to live in Haverhill, the Native Americans of Pentucket and the early colonial settlers from Europe. The program begins with a timeline-building group activity to demonstrate the distance between past and present events in Haverhill history. Next, students will explore Native American culture through a mythological story-reading, and through examining real artifacts from the Luce Archaeology Collection. Then, students will explore life on a colonial farm with a tour of the historic John Ward House, and by learning to play outdoor games from the colonial period.

NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY

Pentucket on the Merrimack

Students will learn how the Pentucket people lived and worked along the river before and after European contact and how their way of life changed. Students will examine stone tools from the Luce Archaeology Collection, sample traditional foods, tour the Native American exhibition, and try a Native American craft or game.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Loyalist or Patriot: The American Revolution in Haverhill

Students are divided into family groups representing the diverse backgrounds of people living in Haverhill during the American Revolution, including peasants, servants, freed and enslaved people, Native Americans, non-Protestants, and land-owning Protestants of European descent. Each student is assigned the role of a character to get into the mindset of, and to think about the pros and cons of the American Revolution from the perspective of their character’s family background. Then, students will take a tour of the Buttonwoods’ buildings and grounds, and examine objects from the collection to learn about what life was like for their character during this time. Finally, the program assembles students into a “town-meeting” to discuss their opinions on the Revolution, and to hold a vote to decide whether Haverhill should ultimately side with the Patriots or the Loyalists.

INDUSTRY & RIVER LIFE

Rolling on the River: Life and Work on the Merrimack

The Merrimack River played a major role in the settlement of the Haverhill area. From the early Native American inhabitants to the Haverhillites of today, the river has supplied the raw materials for life and work along its shores. Join us for this program, which makes use of exhibition spaces, hands-on artifacts, and the museum’s riverside location to examine the changing nature of the riverbank, industry along the river, shipbuilding, and the sailor’s craft.

SHIPBUILDING & CRAFT

Come Sail Away

This program explores Haverhill’s first major industry, the history of boat-making and shipbuilding on the Merrimack River. Students will learn about the importance of the Merrimack River for the Native Americans who hunted and fished in Pentucket for thousands of years, and get to examine real tools used for the creation of dugout canoes. Next, students will explore the stories of early settlers from Britain relying on ships to cross the Atlantic, and examine more artifacts to learn about the shipbuilding process. Finally, students will get to try creating their own dugout canoes from wax, and their own model ships using popsicle sticks and other craft materials.

SHOE INDUSTRY

Queen Slipper City

The manufacture of shoes was an important industry in Haverhill. From the early ten-footers to the mammoth downtown factories, people were employed in all facets of shoemaking. The city’s population boomed as floods of immigrants flocked to Haverhill to power this industry. Participants in this program will visit the Daniel Hunkins Shoe Shop on the grounds of the Museum and examine various shoemaking tools from the collection. Students will try their hand at designing their own shoes and piecing together a paper shoe pattern.

LOCAL HISTORY & GRAVESTONE ART

Here Lies Haverhill History

This program explores the lives of Haverhill’s earliest settlers through the gravestones they left behind. Students will participate in a scavenger hunt to uncover the hidden stories throughout Pentucket Cemetery, and get a firsthand look at the art of stone-carving.

NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE

Playing in Pentucket

Learn about Native American culture by tasting traditional foods, playing Woodland Indian games, and recreating a simple craft. Children can handle stone artifacts and pay a short visit to the exhibit, which contains the Luce archaeology collection.

Program can be brought into the classroom for $60/hour fee.

COLONIAL LIFE

Fun on the Farm

Children gather in the historic John Ward House to learn about life 200 years ago. Butter making, paper quilts, and old-fashioned games are all part of this program.

Program can be brought into the classroom for $60/hour fee.

RIVER & SCIENCE

The Merry Merrimack

The Merrimack River is made more colorful when Half-Pints make their own maps. Children learn all about life on the river and conduct experiments to see what will sink or float.

Program can be brought into the classroom for $60/hour fee.

CRAFTS & PLAY

Tinkering with Toys

The Buttonwoods Museum is full of toys our grandparents played with. In this program, we will make some of our own. Songs, snacks, and games will fill our morning with old-time fun!

ART & CREATIVITY

Pictures and Portraits

Paintings of Haverhill long ago line the walls of the Buttonwoods Museum. We’ll make our own using paint, fabric, buttons, and our imaginations. Snacks and games will make the day picture perfect.