Our History

The Mariposa Museum owes its existence and much of its vision to its co-founders, Linda Marsella and David Blair, and to the entire Blair family.

Teachers and linguists, with a passion for travel and the world's many cultures, Linda and David made Mariposa a home for their collection of folk art and breathed life into an idea for a museum based not only on artifacts but on empathy and the possibility of a peaceful, multicultural world.

While David still serves on the Mariposa board, after serving as Executive Director from 2007 - 2012, Linda Marsella passed away in 2007. Her original vision for a museum named after the Spanish word for butterfly, a symbol of transformation in many cultures, and her tenure as the Mariposa's first Executive Director from 2002 - 2007, set the Mariposa on its course and still guides us today!

Since 2002, the Mariposa Museum & World Culture Center has pioneered a space in New Hampshire dedicated to diversity and inclusion and in which all people can feel welcome. Through interactive arts and multimedia exhibits exploring human experience and the many cultures of the world, games, musical instruments, and public programs of musical and dance performance, storytelling, lectures, and film, the Mariposa offers children and parents, teachers and students, and individuals and groups of all ages a way to encounter and explore difference while affirming and celebrating a shared humanity.

Our permanent college houses objects of all kinds from dozens of diverse cultures and countries from around the world. And out temporary exhibits often feature contemporary paintings, photography, crafts, sculptures and more from underrepresented voices across the US.

We are located in the heart of the Monadnock region, in scenic Peterborough NH. Our address is 26 Main Street, Peterborough, NH 03458.

Please contact info@mariposamuseum.org or 603-924-4555 to explore or book field trips or outreach programs.

The Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center is a multicultural museum dedicated to fostering peace and understanding across cultural borders. We offer a great hands-on learning environment for visitors of all ages, as well as monthly performances, programs for schools and libraries, and memberships.

The Mariposa is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 PM to 5 PM & Sunday 12 to 4 PM, by appointment only on Monday & Tuesday.

Linda Marsella