On Interstate 89, drivers zoom by with cellular phones, GPS navigators and DVD players installed in their cars.

Less than a minute off that highway sits a building where things are a little different.

The New Hampshire Antiquarian Society in Hopkinton houses pieces of the town’s history, and has done so for nearly 150 years in its red brick building on Main Street.

Three Hopkinton residents founded the Antiquarian Society in 1859 as the Philomathic Club, designed to discuss literature before the organization was given its current name in 1875.

“I think it’s very important to keep the history of the town. It gives a sense of community – where it’s been in the past and where it’s going in the future,” said Antiquarian Society Director Heather Mitchell.

Mitchell, who served as assistant for a year and a half before taking over as director, said she likes the fluid nature of historical preservation.

“I live in Hopkinton and really have an interest in things related to its history,” she said. “I really like that we’re always learning new things about Hopkinton through pieces and programs. It’s great to hear peoples’ memories of when they lived in town.”

The feel of the community is something Mitchell enjoys, and something, she said, has remained the same throughout history.

“I think my favorite part of Hopkinton is the rural character, and the sense of community that brings people together. There’s a feeling of a small town,” she said. “In some ways, Hopkinton is different and some ways, it’s not. It has a rural feel and that’s why people love it whether they were born here or not.”

Inside the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society is a variety of artifacts, including historical clothing, portraits of prominent families in the town’s history, and an old shoebox folder that was used at a factory near the river.

Collecting artifacts doesn’t only include digging into the past, as one of the portraits on the wall is of Gould Hill Orchard as it is today, since Mitchell knows with the sale of the property it may not be the same in the future.

“We’re not just collecting historical pieces. It’s an ongoing effort for what will be tomorrow’s history,” said Mitchell. “People want to see where their lives fit and what’s happened in the past.”

One aspect of the Antiquarian Society that has changed over time is the use of technology, as Mitchell and her staff are in the process of cataloguing every artifact in the building so they can easily access information on the computer.

“It makes everything more accessible. We have a wonderful collection but if you can’t find what you want, it’s difficult to share with others,” she said. Mitchell invites everyone to visit the musuem and consider becoming a member.

The museum is taking part in a statewide competition where the museum or historical society that has the largest increase in membership through the end of October will earn $25,000. For details on the Society and the membership contest, visit www.nhantiquarian.org.