Hearse House Museum

651 Old Turnpike Road, Salisbury, NH 03268

Open Saturdays 1-3 pm, in the Summer & on Salisbury Old Home Day

Chronology of the Hearse House

1885 – A storage shed was built for the Salisburys’ horse-drawn hearse.

1912 – A larger addition was made for a snow roller.

1927 – Snow Roller was replaced by a Tractor and Plow. We wonder what ever happened to the snow roller.

1986 – The Town of Salisbury turned the Hearse House building over to the Salisbury Historical Society.

1990 – The Museum was opened by our then-President, Anne G. Smith. It was her vision to turn this Hearse house into an appropriate space to display the Town’s horse-drawn hearse and the many other Salisbury artifacts that had been donated to the Society for preservation. We remain grateful for Anne Smith’s vision and determination and for all those who worked to create and preserve the Hearse House museum. Additionally, the site features a reconstruction of a country store with goods, an old Salisbury Post Office unit complete with mailboxes, an old Salisbury telephone switchboard system, and various tools. Salisbury Quilts, Samplers, Old Medical kit, and objects of historical interest are on display.

2014 A much-needed extensive exterior painting project took place during which time old paint was removed on both the Meeting House and Hearse House (adjacent Museum). This was done in accordance with environmental regulations and at considerable expense to the Society, but it was necessary. Maintenance was done as well to ensure their preservation.

2025 – The original horse-drawn hearse is still on display to this day.

On October 27, 2025, the Hearse House Museum was certified and added to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places.