Rye Historical Society

Rye History Highlights

       Gosport fishing village at Star Island established in 1600's
1623  David Thompson establishes first permanent settlement in NH at
       Odiorne Point
1623  Sandy Beach (Rye) settled
1692  Wars with Indians lead to Brackett Massacre
1694  John Locke's private war with Indians at Locke's Neck
1726  Parish of Rye established and first church erected
1774  Rye militia aids in raid on Ft. Wm. and Mary, New Castle
1785  Rye's declaration of independence - established as a town
1814  "Battle of Rye harbor"
1846   Atlantic and Ocean Houses, first hotels
1848   Civil War - 86 men from Rye serve
1874   First trans-Atlantic cable lands at Rye; cable office established
1874   Methodist Church (1839) converted to Town Hall
1896   Central cemetery laid out
1900   First trolley comes to Rye
1900-04   Ocean Boulevard built
1905   Rye Beach precinct established
1911   Rye library built (last in county)
WWI and WWII   Dozens of Rye citizens serve
1938   Life saving station closed; Port of Missing Men established at Rye Harbor
1940   Granite jettys  built making  a "safe harbor" for Rye
1959   Rye's 19th century Congregational Church burns
1962   Rye Harbor dredged and State pier built
1966   Historic District established in town center
1974   Defeat of Onassis Oil Refinery
1975-76   Bi-centennial celebrations
1976  Rye Historical Society founded from Rye Bicentennial Committee
1978   Parsons Park created preserving 40 acres for town use
1997   Rye Library expansion and building for Town Museum made available
2002   Rye Town Museum opens

Highlights of Museum Collection

extensive historic photos on exhibit
research library
historic clothing collection
historic maps and aerial photos
geneological research
extensive Rye news clipping collection
historic book and  document collection
oral history collection
profiles and artifacts of Rye personalities
computer storage of archives
extensive collection of donated items
gift shop

RHS Activities

public programs
museum hours
school programs
oral history and transcriptions
reprints of town histories and other sales items
artifact/document collection
old photo restoration
receive/display donations and loans
historic anniversary exhibits
museum building renovation
geneological research

Current Exhibit

Summering in Rye: Over as Century by the Sea

A history of the summer resorts of Rye, NH The Golden Age of Grand Hotels and Boarding Houses from the 1840's to the 1960's motels and tourist cabins.

"Once or twice during the summer our father took us in the evening to the Farragut or the Wentworth and we sat outside and through the long windows and opened doors we watched beautifully gowned ladies and gentlemen dancing, and listened to the music which was the biggest thrill of all."

Rye resident Emma Foss 1883-1978
reminiscing in 1973 about her childhood in Rye in 1890's

"Once or twice during the summer our father took us in the evening to the Farragut or the Wentworth and we sat outside and through the long windows and opened doors we watched beautifully gowned ladies and gentlemen dancing, and listened to the music which was the biggest thrill of all."

Rye resident Emma Foss 1883-1978
reminiscing in 1973 about her childhood in Rye in 1890's

Needs of Rye Historical Society

computer expertise
museum maintainence
cataloging resources
conducting oral histories
running school programs
writing/administrating grants
doing research
restoring old graveyards