Rye Historical Society - NH

10/25/2026

📸 RYE THROUGH THE LENS - THEN & NOW
Discover the beauty of today’s Rye at the Rye Public Library!

To celebrate the launch of Lew Karabatsos’s new book “Rye Through the Lens“ featuring photographs of Rye from 1880- 1980, the Rye Historical Society invites you to enjoy a complementary exhibit of contemporary photographs of Rye.

From coastal views to familiar landmarks and everyday moments, these photographs capture the places we treasure - and the personal perspectives that help us see our community in a new light. Yesterday’s photographs preserve our history; today’s images continue the story.

Presented as part of October’s Rye History Month and our Rye300 / USA250 celebrations, the exhibit connects Rye’s past with the community we know and love today.

📍 Rye Public Library - downstairs community room
📅 On display through November 24, 2026
🕒 Visit during regular library operating hours

Stop by, take a closer look, and discover Rye through a different lens!

10/17/2026

📸 Rye Through The Lens: Author Event

Rye has a story to show & tell, and we’d love to share it with you!

Join the Rye Historical Society on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at the Rye Public Library for a special author event celebrating Rye Through The Lens.

Come meet author Lew Karabatsos, celebrate Rye’s history through photography, and see our wonderful town through a fresh lens. Whether you’ve lived here for decades or are just discovering Rye, there’s always something new to appreciate about the place we call home.

The program will feature an interview with Karabatsos, Chair of the Rye Historical Society Collections Committee and compiler and editor of the new book Rye Through the Lens, published by Arcadia Publishing.

Following the interview, Lew will sign copies of Rye Through the Lens, which will be available for purchase.

All book sales benefit the Rye Historical Society.

📍 Rye Public Library
📅 Saturday, October 24 | 11:30 a.m.

While admission is free, please register to attend: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rye-through-the-lens-lew-karabatsos-contemporary-views-of-rye-tickets-1998431792287?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Through the link below, you can pre order the book AND register for the event:

https://www.ryenhhistoricalsociety.org/book-launch-2026

📸 Also on display: A selection of contemporary photographs of Rye by local photographers will be exhibited in conjunction with the program and remain on view through Nov. 28.

10/11/2026

📍

In honor of Veteran's Day the Pulpit Rock Tower will be open to visitors! Please join us!!

10/11/2026

Indigenous Peoples Day

10/10/2026

What a wonderful evening for Rye!

On Thursday, Oct. 8, the Rye NH Historical Society celebrated 50 years since its founding in 1976, surrounded by friends, members, volunteers, former leaders, and supporters who have helped carry the Society forward across five decades.

It was especially meaningful to have three of our original founding members - Becky Marden, Alex Herlihy, and Ralph Morang III - with us in person. Their presence was a powerful reminder that the Society we know today was built by people who cared deeply about preserving Rye’s stories, places, records, and traditions.

We are grateful to everyone who has served on the Board, volunteered at the museum, researched and archived Rye’s history, led programs and tours, donated artifacts and funds, and simply showed up over the years to support this work, especially now during Rye’s very first “Rye History Month”.

As current President of the Rye NH Historical Society, Chair of the Board of Directors (Lew Karabatsos, Ginna Macdonald, Victor Azzi, Steve Cash, Jennifer Stevens, Mike Berry, Dave Caswell, Edie LaFrance Brindamour and Andy Stecher), I am deeply proud to help lead the Society into its next 50 years. Our responsibility now is to honor the work of those who came before us while continuing to make Rye history accessible, relevant, and engaging for future generations.

With the support of our community, we will keep preserving our collections, expanding exhibits and programs, telling the many stories that make Rye unique, and strengthening the connection between our past, present, and future.

Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us and to all who continue to support the Rye Historical Society - here’s to the next 50 years!

Andy Stecher, Board of Directors RHS

10/08/2026

10/04/2026

📌 Want to get pinned?

Rye history — we care deeply about it — and you can wear a little piece representing your support, too!

The Rye Historical Society is celebrating 50 years of preserving Rye’s past and inspiring its future with a limited-edition 50th Anniversary pin. 🎉

Want one? You can pick up your very own 50th Anniversary pin for $10 when you attend the Rye Historical Society Annual Meeting this Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m. at Atlantic Grill, 5 Pioneer Road, Rye (please register here: https://www.ryenhhistoricalsociety.org/events/rye-historical-society-annual-meeting-followed-by-celebrations )

📌 Attend the Annual Meeting, get pinned, and help us celebrate 50 years of keeping Rye history alive! 𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆!

Five decades. One pretty great little-ish pin.

10/03/2026

Got a little Saturday morning time? Come poke around some Rye history. 👀

The Rye Historical Society Museum will be open 10 a.m. to noon this Saturday, Oct. 3 — a perfect time to stop in, browse the collections, learn something you didn’t know about Rye, and maybe hear a good story or two.

Whether you’re a longtime Rye resident, a newer neighbor or just curious about the place we call home, come on by!

📍 10 Olde Parish Road, Rye
🕙 Saturday, 10 a.m.–noon

History is better when you can walk right into it.