Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex), New Hampshire
Rail preservation groupOpen July 1 to Labor Day, Wednesday to Saturday
The Wolfeboro Historical Society, founded in 1925, keeps the history of this Lake Winnipesaukee resort town, including the era when the Wolfeboro Railroad linked it to the outside world, at its four-building Clark Museum Complex.
- Society founded in 1925
- Four historic buildings
- Wolfeboro Railroad formed in 1868
- Open July to Labor Day
- Children under 12 free
Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex) at a glance
- Hours
- July 1 to Labor Day: Wednesday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm, Saturday 10 am to 2 pm (as posted for 2026)
- Admission
- $5 per person; under 12 free; active duty and reservists free
- Seasonal events
- Antique & Vintage Fair on the Green, Historic Figures Tea, Summer Lecture Series, Movie Classics at the Clark
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Local history lovers and families visiting the Lakes Region
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address233 South Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH 03894(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(603) 273-8614
- Emailwolfeborohistoricalsociety@gmail.com
- Websitewolfeborohistoricalsociety.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex)
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex)? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Wolfeboro.
Rally Takes the Train
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Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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A resort town's railroad, remembered by its historians
On July 1, 1868, a group of Wolfeboro residents formed the Wolfeboro Railroad to give their lakeside town a rail connection to the outside world. The line later became the Wolfeboro Branch of the Boston & Maine, serving a summer resort town on Lake Winnipesaukee. Local accounts say freight and tourist trains ran until 1979, when the Wolfeboro Steam Railroad Corporation took over and ran tourist trains from 1980 to 1985 before the line was abandoned and sold to the State of New Hampshire.
The town's history, railroad years included, is kept by the Wolfeboro Historical Society, formed on September 1, 1925. It has leased the Clark House from the town since 1927 and now runs the Clark Museum Complex: the house, the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse, a firehouse added in 1982 and a reconstructed 1820s barn that opened in 2018. A museum directory lists exhibits on the Boston & Maine and local transportation, so call ahead to ask what railroad material is on display.
Four antique buildings on South Main Street
Guided tours lead through the Clark House, where three generations of the Clark family lived from 1817 to 1917, plus the one-room schoolhouse, the firehouse and the barn. Volunteer historians can also help with family research, using local histories, about 300 topic files and about 110 genealogy folders.
Don’t miss
- The Clark HouseHome to three generations of the Clark family for a century, donated to the town by Greenleaf Clark.
- Pleasant Valley SchoolhouseAn authentic one-room schoolhouse moved to the grounds in 1959.
A schoolhouse, a firehouse and old toys
Children under 12 get in free, and the one-room schoolhouse and firehouse are easy for kids to picture in use. In summer 2026 the barn hosted an antique and vintage toy display. There is no train to ride here, so young rail fans may enjoy hearing that trains once brought summer visitors right into town.
Plan your visit: tips for Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex)
- Call (603) 273-8614 to ask which railroad items are on display before a special trip.
- Summer lectures are free and open to the public.
- Molly the Trolley tours of Wolfeboro stop at the museum.
- Active duty and reserve military get free admission as a Blue Star Museum.
Volunteer historians since 1925
The Wolfeboro Historical Society is a volunteer-supported nonprofit, and the Clark Museum Complex is owned by the Town of Wolfeboro and operated by the society. Memberships start at $10 a year and include the newsletter and event discounts; admissions, donations and the annual Historic Figures Tea, which helps preserve the schoolhouse, keep the doors open.
Train trips around the lake and mountains
The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is about 23 miles away, and the Conway Scenic Railroad is about 33 miles north for a real train ride. The Seashore Trolley Museum in Maine is about 38 miles east. See New Hampshire train museums for more ideas.
- Ashland Railroad Station MuseumAshland, NH · about 23 mi
- New England Southern Railroad historical collectionsNew Hampshire, NH · about 25 mi
- Conway Scenic RailroadNorth Conway, NH · about 33 mi
- Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook, NH · about 36 mi
- Seashore Trolley MuseumKennebunkport, ME · about 38 mi
- Winnipesaukee Scenic RailroadMeredith, NH · about 40 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Trains once carried summer families right to the edge of Lake Winnipesaukee here, and I love picturing their faces pressed to the glass. In our book, Rally looks out an arched window and greets a white bird flying over the water. A lake is not quite the ocean, but the happy surprise is the same. My mom dreamed that page up before she died in 2021, and our story page tells how it became a book.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in New Hampshire: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in New Hampshire
- Halloween train rides in New Hampshire
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex)?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex) official website(opens in a new tab)
- Wolfeboro Historical Society (Clark Museum Complex) on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Wolfeboro railroad history and the Clark Museum: 20 FAQs
Where can I learn about the Wolfeboro Railroad's history?
The Wolfeboro Historical Society keeps the town's history at its Clark Museum Complex, 233 South Main Street, and a museum directory lists exhibits there on the Boston & Maine and transportation in Wolfeboro. Call (603) 273-8614 to ask what railroad material is on view before you visit.
When was the Wolfeboro Railroad founded?
On July 1, 1868, a group of Wolfeboro residents formed a corporation called the Wolfeboro Railroad to arrange a rail connection between the town and the outside world. The line later became the Wolfeboro Branch of the Boston & Maine Railroad.
When did trains stop running to Wolfeboro?
Local accounts say freight and tourist trains ran until 1979, when the Wolfeboro Steam Railroad Corporation formed. It ran tourist trains for about five years, from 1980 to 1985, before the line was petitioned for abandonment and sold to the State of New Hampshire.
What is the Clark Museum Complex in Wolfeboro?
It is a group of four antique buildings run by the Wolfeboro Historical Society: the Clark House, the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse, a firehouse and a reconstructed 1820s barn. The complex is owned by the Town of Wolfeboro and offers guided tours in summer.
What are the Clark Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open July 1 to Labor Day, Wednesday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. Special events continue into the fall, so check the society's event calendar for dates outside the summer season.
How much does the Clark Museum cost?
As of October 2026, admission is $5 per person, and children under 12 are free. As a Blue Star Museum, it offers free admission to active duty and reserve military members. Summer lectures are also free and open to the public.
Where is the Wolfeboro Historical Society?
The Clark Museum Complex is at 233 South Main Street, Wolfeboro, New Hampshire 03894, about 108 miles north of Boston. The mailing address is PO Box 1066 at the same street address. Call (603) 569-4997 or (603) 273-8614 with questions.
When was the Wolfeboro Historical Society founded?
The society was formed on September 1, 1925, and incorporated on August 31, 1926. It has leased the Clark House from the town since July 7, 1927. In 2025 the governor of New Hampshire honored it for 100 years of excellence in museum management, education and preservation.
Who lived in the Clark House in Wolfeboro?
Three generations of the Clark family lived in the house for about a century, from 1817 to 1917. Greenleaf Clark donated the house to the Town of Wolfeboro, and the historical society has operated it as a museum ever since.
Is the Clark Museum good for kids?
It is a good short stop for school-age kids, with a one-room schoolhouse and a firehouse to explore, and children under 12 get in free. There are no train rides or climbable trains, so pair it with a lake activity or a train ride elsewhere in the region.
What events does the Wolfeboro Historical Society hold?
Recent events include the Antique & Vintage Fair on the Green, summer lectures in the barn, the Historic Figures Tea fundraiser and Movie Classics at the Clark, which screened Murder on the Orient Express in 2026. See the event schedule on the society's website for current dates.
Does Molly the Trolley stop at the Clark Museum?
Yes. The society says the Clark Museum is a favorite stop for Molly the Trolley, run by the Wolfeboro Trolley Company. Riding the trolley is an easy way to reach the museum while touring the town.
Can the Wolfeboro Historical Society help with family research?
Yes. Volunteer historians can help you research your family's connections to Wolfeboro. The society keeps local histories, about 300 topic folders, about 110 genealogy folders and research on the town's buildings and homes. Email wolfeborohistoricalsociety@gmail.com to start.
How do I become a member of the Wolfeboro Historical Society?
Memberships run from $10 for an individual and $20 for a couple up to patron and benefactor levels, all valid for 12 months. Members receive the newsletter, event emails and discounts on special events, and higher levels include the three-volume Bowers History.
Can I donate items to the Wolfeboro Historical Society?
Yes. If you have items of interest for possible donation, the society asks you to email wolfeborohistoricalsociety@gmail.com with a list of the items first. Railroad photos or papers from Wolfeboro's rail years are the kind of thing worth asking about.
Is the Clark Museum free for veterans?
Active duty and reserve military members receive free admission year-round as part of the Blue Star Museums program. On Memorial Day the society has also offered free tours for military veterans, so watch the event calendar.
How long does a visit to the Clark Museum take?
Plan about an hour for a guided tour of the four buildings. Allow more time if you are doing family research or visiting during a fair, lecture or other special event on the grounds. A tour usually moves at an easy pace, with time for questions.
Is the Clark Museum wheelchair accessible?
The society does not post accessibility details online. The complex includes historic buildings from the 1800s, so call (603) 273-8614 before visiting to ask about entrances and which areas are easiest to reach. Volunteers can usually suggest the best way to see each building.
Is there parking at the Wolfeboro Historical Society?
The society does not list parking details online. The complex is on South Main Street in Wolfeboro; call (603) 273-8614 to ask where to park, especially on fair days when the grounds are busy. Riding Molly the Trolley, which stops at the museum, is another way to arrive.
What train attractions are near Wolfeboro?
The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is about 23 miles away, and the Conway Scenic Railroad in North Conway is about 33 miles away for a real train ride. The Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, is about 38 miles east.
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