John Woodman Higgins Armory
add photosThe Higgins Armory Museum, with 5,000 objects on 4 floors, is the only institution in the Northeast dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition, and interpretation of arms and armor. A visit to the Higgins will spark your imagination with the fact behind the fairytale!
3 Reviews for John Woodman Higgins Armory
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'11, '12
1 family found this helpful
"Time for Fun!"
The kids will want to spend just as much time in the gift shop as the museum itself! There are tons of souvenirs in the gift shop so it is difficult to choose just one thing. So if you don't have plans to spend any money on gift shop items, don't go in! Prices at the gift shop are reasonable. The museum itself is a lot of fun! The kids really enjoyed looking at the full suits of armor! Especially the one with the bullet hole! The skipped over the stained glass windows, though. The children's area has a giant chess set. The kids loved playing chess with these 2' chess pieces. There are many activities for many age groups and preferences. There was dress up for boys and girls, rubbings, chess and much more for the kids.
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"Fun with the Family"
Try on a helmet—or perhaps a full suit of armor, if you’re big enough—at this remarkable collection, the only museum in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to arms and armor. The orientation is fun for everyone; the interpreter selects a visitor to try on a few selective pieces, encouraging him or her to describe how uncomfortable and restrictive the armor actually is. The Quest Gallery has costumes for everyone: princesses and princes, queens and kings, and helmets for moms and dads. The second-floor Special Exhibits Gallery is always rotating its displays and covers a wide variety of topics.
The museum runs interesting workshops for kids in which they learn to make gargoyles, books, masks, pennants, and shields; call for a schedule. Chess games are always going on in the Quest Gallery. A fun program called Saturdays at the Higgins features a rotating schedule of demonstrations, events, and films. A self-guided audio tour can be rented—it’s a big hit for those who wish to go at their own pace.
Special Events at the Higgins Armory
• Founders Day, first Saturday in January. Free admission. A wide variety of activities to intrigue you and a sampling of programs and demonstrations to engage children of any age.
• Knightmare at the Higggins, the Saturday before Halloween. Free admission for kids in costume. Watch the parade of ghouls, decorate a trick-or-treat bag.
• Holidays at the Higgins, December. Decorate gingerbread ornaments and castles, listen to traditional holiday songs and entertainment.
1 family found this helpful
"Have fun storming the castle.."
This museum was a great fit for our two-year old son, 'Sir' Luke, who loves knights and dragons, and our four-year old daughter, 'Maiden' Charlotte, who loves dress ups. We attended a weapons demonstration and spent a great deal of time in the dress up area (various costumes and also real helmets to try on.) There was also a castle and figures for the kids to play with. The top floor is made to look like a castle. Big hit with our kids. There was also a shield making activity, which we'll do in the future. Ina ddition, they have story times (check the web site/schedule.)
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