4.5Strawbery Banke Museum(1.144 reviews) - Definitely Worth A Visit Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • History Museums
Experience New England life in the Puddle Dock neighborhood. Strawbery Banke Museum is a 10-acre campus dedicated to bringing history to life, from Indigenous history to the present day, in the Puddle Dock neighborhood. Tour historic houses on original sites, meet engaging costumed roleplayers, watch traditional crafts demonstrations, and explore historical gardens and landscapes. The museum is a place for children, adults, multi-generational families, and groups to gather and explore. The museum welcomes 110,000 visitors, members, schoolchildren, and volunteers who love New Hampshire history for daily programs, exhibits, skating, and signature special events throughout the year.See more..
Once the home of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, this beautiful home and garden is now open to the public for free concerts and picnics.See more..
4.5Canterbury Shaker Village(306 reviews) - Beautiful, peaceful place. Worth a visit Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • History Museums
Located just 20 minutes from Concord, NH, 30 minutes from Manchester, NH and 75 minutes from Boston, Canterbury Shaker Village, Inc., is an internationally-known non-profit museum founded in 1969 to preserve the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers. Designated as a National Historic Landmark for its architectural integrity and significance, the Village has 30 restored original Shaker buildings and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens, nature trails, and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. Canterbury Shaker Village is dedicated to preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and to providing a place for learning, reflection, and renewal of the human spirit. Canterbury Shaker Village offers tours, exhibits, special events, and more.See more..
3.5America's Stonehenge(247 reviews) - Crackpot or legit? Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins • Mysterious Sites • Monuments & Statues
Formerly known as Mystery Hill, this unusual site contains many ancient rock structures "built" by humans.See more..
4.5Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden(97 reviews) - If you are touring only one historic home, make it the Moffatt-Ladd House (1763) Sunday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites • Gardens
Originally built for a wealthy merchant family, and later the residence of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, this splendid home features an elegant 18th-century garden, interesting carvings, and much of the original furniture. Guided tours of the house are available June 1 through mid-October, Monday-Saturday 11am to 5pm and Sundays 1-5pm. Tours last 45-60mins and are $8 for adults, $2.5 for children (6-12) and children under 6 are free. To tour the garden on your own is just $2 per person.See more..
Farm where Frost lived, raised his children and wrote.See more..
4.5Pickety Place(92 reviews) - Really neat place and delicious food Historic Sites
This 18th-century farmhouse was the inspiration for the grandmother's house in Little Red Riding Hood, which today serves as an herb farm and restaurant.See more..
The parking lot was closed when we arrived, it is apparently only open on the weekends right now, but we parked with BBC a few other cars in front of the gate. It really is a neat old abandoned fort with a few buildings that you can explore. If you’re on the island, you may as well stop by. There are a couple “beaches” there, but you wouldn’t want to swim. See more..
This 1758 colonial, gambrel-roofed house was the home of Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones while in Portsmouth during the war, and now features a collection of furniture, toys, guns, canes and a historic garden. The museum is open Memorial Day - mid October.See more..
4.5Franklin Pierce Homestead State Historic Site(73 reviews) - Wonderful tour of a historic property. Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Spent 1-2 hours Speciality & Gift Shops • Historic Sites • Educational sites
Franklin Pierce Homestead was the home of the fourteenth president of the United States from his infancy until his marriage in 1834. The Pierce Homestead is a spacious and beautiful, federal style country home. Built by Pierce's father in 1804, it reflects the gracious and affluent living of the nineteenth century. A ballroom, which extends the entire length of the second floor, was used for entertaining neighbors and distinguished families of the state and nation. Franklin Pierce shared Daniel Webster's dedication to national unity and led our country during the most trying of times, the time of slavery. The Pierce Homestead is available, at a fee, for small private functions & meetings.See more..
The Fort at No. 4 is an open-air museum & historic landmark in Charlestown, NH. To the extent possible, the museum recreates the 18th century fortified section of Township Number 4 (now Charlestown) with a focus in the multi-cultural, multi-layered, and complicated life of the Connecticut River Upper Valley. The museum is a private, non-profit organization.See more..
4.5Pierce Manse(52 reviews) - learn about a President who is not well known Historic Sites
Greek Revival home once owned by former President Franklin Pierce.See more..
4.5Frye's Measure Mill(44 reviews) - A must visit Sunday: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites • Educational sites
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this is the last water-powered mill since the 1850's.See more..
4.0Fort Stark State Historic Site(40 reviews) - A Great Historical Visit For The Entire Family Sunday: 10:00 AM - 3:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites
The parking lot is opened by volunteers hopefully by 10 a.m. each day. The Visitor Center and museum is open Saturday through Sunday from Memorial Day to June 20 from 10 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. From June 24 - Labor Day it is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. It has exhibits about the military history of the fort and a whole section about shipwrecks which happened in the New Castle area.See more..
The governor's mansion when Portsmouth was state capital in the 1700s, this historic 1718 house was the site of many important decisions about New Hampshires future.See more..
Our friends had their wedding outside this historic home in the back garden. It was one of the nicest quaint outdoor ceremonies I have ever seen. The garden was nicely decorated and they had a small violin group off to the side. This was a great place to come and a great alternative to a traditional church wedding. I would highly suggest to anyone thinking of getting married in the Portsmouth area.See more..
Hard to find the parking spot, we weren't sure if we had arrived. Walked down the path to find sign with some explanation of the site. Continued up the path and ran into woman talking to Russ, who gave us a hand-drawn map that Russ had made and welcomed us to look around the adjacent old home with keepsakes Russ had collected, and explained the map to us. We came upon one sunken area with a small sign explaining that it was the site of an historic dwelling. We got lost once or twice -hard to follow the map. Saw no other signs of explanation but did see a couple of other sunken areas which perhaps were excavated remains of homesites? It is a shame that there is not more signage to prevent getting lost and to better tell the story of this site. Nevertheless, it is a very nice place to take a leisurely stroll.See more..
4.5Horatio Colony Museum(32 reviews) - Review of visit to Horatio Colony Museum in Keene, NH Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites
The Horatio Colony Museum is a private home that was left completely intact with all original furniture, collections of a variety of valuable object d'art, and many other items by the wealthy owner who came from the Colony family that owned the large textile mills in southern NH. The tour of the home is given by the director of the museum who is quite knowledgeable about all of the home objects and the life of the deceased owner. It is really worth a detour especially for anyone interested in antiques and hearing about the well traveled and interesting life of the deceased owner. See more..
4.5African Burying Ground(28 reviews) - I Was Speechless!!! Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues
Wow! Powerful outdoor experience. We visited on a sunny Friday morning. We stayed at the downtown Hampton Inn and walked less than 10 minutes to the African Burying Ground. Be sure to reach all the signage posted on the area because valuable information is written there. Kudos to the citizens of Portsmouth for such a worthwhile endeavor. The collective history of the peoples of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is inspiring and promising. May we embrace our past, learn from it and heal together.See more..
4.5Slate Covered Bridge(24 reviews) - Rebuilt after a Disastrous Fire Historic Sites • Bridges
The original Slate Covered Bridge dates to 1862 and was named after a local family. Unfortunately, this magnificent bridge measuring 122 feet long was destroyed by arson in 1993. The present bridge was rebuilt in 2001. Kudos to the locals for rebuilding and preserving the history of Swanzy, NH. This bridge is only one of six covered bridges that cross the Ashuelot River and lie within a few miles of each other. Friends and I made a point of visiting the bridges while staying in New Hampshire a few weeks ago. Bridges are beautiful - all! Enjoy.See more..
5.0Tuck Museum(17 reviews) - HAMPTON’S PAST DOCUMENTED IN ONE PLACE Historic Sites • History Museums
The Tuck Museum is home of the Hampton Historical Society. It consists of a number of buildings, a number of monuments, a well, and antique objects. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. On our visit, we took a guided tour with a docent who took us around to the Fire Museum, Barn, Schoolhouse, Well, and Beach Cottage. We learned that the town’s prime occupations were dairy farming, faming of salt hay, and fishing. We found the Fire Museum and Beach Cottage the most interesting. The Beach Cottage was a compact one-room building that really maximized the limited space with an efficient layout. We thought it was a nice museum. We’d return for another visit. If you found this review helpful, kindly click THANK below.See more..
5.0Carleton bridge(14 reviews) - Great historical value! Historic Sites
The bridge itself is unremarkable compared to several other bridges in the area - but is set apart by its history! The construction used a very old “truss bridge” method and is the only one in NH built this way. The current bridge was built back in 1869, but supposedly there has been a bridge in that location since 1789! The surrounding area is gorgeous, especially during fall! Some great photo ops from inside the bridge! It’s a small bridge way out on a country road - easy to find - all I had to do was plug in the name or the bridge into google maps and it found it (don’t use Apple Maps though bc it couldn’t find it). There’s a small area off to the side for parking as well. See more..
Nice bridge that has had good upkeep. There is not a parking area by the bridge so many park just off the road nd walk up to it.See more..
4.5Rundlet-May House(10 reviews) - Worth the time to view Historic Sites
Like many of the houses in Portsmouth, this has its history and colonial presence. It is worth a stop and time.See more..
4.5Coombs Covered Bridge(9 reviews) - Lovely Old Bridge in Winchester Historic Sites • Bridges
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Coombs Covered Bridge over the Ashuelot River in Winchester, NH is one of six spectacular bridges each within a few miles of each other in this part of New Hampshire. A group of friends and I made a point of visiting these bridges while on a visit here a few weeks ago. Some were a little difficult to find...this one was perhaps the easiest of all of them. The bridge was named after its owner and probable builder. Dating to 1837, the bridge is in great condition and was renovated in the late sixties. This bridge is 107 feet long, and was probably my favorite of all of them.See more..
Located in Contoocook Village, the park includes the Contoocook railroad depot, the world's oldest surviving covered railroad bridge, a 1907 vintage Pullman coach, and the Lewellen Bandstand.See more..
4.0Mary Baker Eddy Historic House(5 reviews) - Holly Morris, manager, is simply outstanding in knowledge and manner. Sunday: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Historic Sites
May 1-October 31, guided tours Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday 10 am - 4 pm; Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm, and by appointment all year. Suggested donation $7, children under 12 free. Owned by Longyear Museum, Chestnut Hill, MA. This mid-19th century house was the residence of the founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, from 1889 to 1892. Visitors will tour 2 historic rooms, view a large-scale panorama of Pleasant View (no longer standing) where Mrs. Eddy lived from 1892 to 1908, and exhibits describing her childhood home in nearby Bow.See more..
This working Mill is a State Historic Site with abundant natural beauty and serenity. Bring your camera to record some gorgeous views.See more..
5.0New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery(3 reviews) - Solumn Beauty Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Cemeteries One of the most beautiful cemeteries we have ever visited. The grounds and memorials are dignified and prideful. The Historical Walkway is so moving, and you need to spend a couple of hours here to absorb the beauty and elegance. This memorial complex is a testament to those who contributed. God Bless!See more..
This is located on Rowell Bridge Road which runs between Clement Hill Road and Maple Street spanning the Contoocook River. The sides of the bridge are unpainted. The single lane bridge has pull-offs on one end. It is NH bridge #9.See more..
4.5Bradford Center Meetinghouse(3 reviews) - Historical and scenic Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
I went to Bradford to photograph the covered bridge, and came upon the Bradford Meeting house location. Beautifully maintained meeting house, school, and town pound. Nearby is an old colonial cemetery, with old tilting gravestones. I wondered what those towns folk were like, and how there lives were back in the 1700-1800's. A nice, quiet place to learn about Bradford's history.See more..
4.5Dalton Covered Bridge(3 reviews) - Rare Find These Days Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Bridges
A nice throwback to simpler times. A quiet road with the river underneath makes for an ideal rest/photo spot after the walking trail from downtown Warner.See more..
3.5Uncle Sam's House(2 reviews) - BOYHOOD HOME OF SAMUEL WILSON, KNOWN AS “UNCLE SAM” Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
This landmark was the boyhood home of Samuel Wilson, who became the meatpacker who supplied beef to the U.S. Government. He was known as Uncle Sam and became the symbol of the United States. It was once open to the public but not anymore. Now, it is a house to be viewed as a historic site along with the accompanying New Hampshire State Historic Marker that stands by the road. My visit was combined with a trip to Mason for lunch at Pickity Place. It could also be combined with a trip to Parker’s Maple Barn. The house and marker are between the two. I rate this historic site at 4.0. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
3.5Cilleyville Covered Bridge(2 reviews) - Historic Bridge Was Worth a Brief Stop Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Bridges
This historically significant, single-span Town lattice truss type covered bridge was built in 1887. Its unpainted, plank-sided, 53.2-foot (16 m) length appeared to be in good condition, having been rehabilitated in 2003. Limited parking was just off NH 11. Signs indicated the bridge, but provided little warning to prepare for a turn off when driving at highway speeds. The bridge was closed to traffic but one could walk through it. I did wish there were more vantage points to view it from upriver or downriver. Other than that, it was well worth the brief stop.See more..
Cute bridge that we visited. It has a parking area so you can park and take a walk over the bridge and it had some wonderful views. They have a nice walking path on both sides of the bridge.See more..
The mansion of NH's last colonial govenor is long gone, but the cellar hole remains. I would love to do a "dig" here, but I know that's not appropriate. Should the state do a better job of setting up some sort of display with period artifacts, sketches of the house, etc, of course, but NH is cheap, or as the locals say, frugal. I'm sure few within the state government thinks it is worth the time and moneySee more..
4.0Thunder Bridge(1 review) - ATTRACTIVE HISTORIC BRIDGE WITH A SMALL PARK Historic Sites • Bridges
Thunder Bridge has other names. The roadside marker near it says Pineground Bridge. It’s also called Depot Road Bridge. It is located beside and on a lower level from Depot Road and the current bridge that takes vehicular traffic over the Suncook River. The best access is on the short spur road adjacent to the Chichester side of the bridge. One can also park there. Like the bridge on Depot Road, it spans the Suncook River connecting Chichester and Epsom, but it is now only a pedestrian bridge. The nameplate displays information that it was built in 1887 by the Berlin Iron Bridge Co. of Berlin, CT. It is built in the patented lenticular-truss style that the company was known for throughout New England. The bridge is 96 feet long and 16 feet wide. The decking is made of wood. With all the vertical supports and cross-members, it’s an attractive bridge. It’s the only one of its kind in the State of New Hampshire. A small park with an information kiosk, picnic table, and a bench are on the Epsom side. The metal bench is dedicated to Bernie Reinhardt, who was President of the Historical Society of Chichester. The bench has an unusual design. The backrest features a tree with a massive crown that spreads laterally across the width of the backrest. Near the Epsom end of the bridge, there is some drive shaft machinery from the Ordway Mill on display. It was pleasant place to sit and enjoy the fresh air on a mild fall day. On a summer day, it’s make a great picnic spot. A visit to this bridge can easily be combined with a visit to nearby Chichester Country Store about 1/4 of a mile away for some of the store’s legendary Apple Cider Donuts or lunchtime subs or sandwiches. I rate Thunder Bridge at 4.25 and highly recommend a combined visit. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
5.0Barrett House(1 review) - Lovely in Every Way! Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
5.0Walnut Grove Baptist Church(1 review) - HISTORIC CHURCH IN A SCENIC SETTING Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Churches & Cathedrals
Returning to NH from weekend time in Vacationland, I decided to go home via Salmon Falls Road. Along that road, I came upon Walnut Grove Baptist Church. I’d passed this church a few times before. This time, the way the sunlight was falling on it, coupled with the blue sky background, made was such a pretty sight that I stopped to admire it for longer than ever before. It was the perfect small church in a New England country setting with lots of vacant land beside and behind it. There was even vacant land across the road. Walnut Grove Baptist Church is the classic, pretty small white church with a tall steeple. It is an example of simple architecture that has a strong visual impact. The church was founded in 1864 so it’s a historic building as well. During my visit, hundreds of migrating birds came to rest in the trees near the far side of the church parking lot. And, what a noisy flock they were! I rate Walnut Grove Baptist Church at 5.0 and recommend stopping by to admire it for its simple architecture when in the area of Salmon Falls Road. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
4.0CHARLES COGSWELL DOE(1 review) - NH HISTORIC MARKER FOR CHARLES C. DOE, JURIST Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Heading over to Brandmoore Farm to see if it was open, I stopped to view the New Hampshire State Historic Marker on the corner as I turned onto Sligo Road. I'd passed it hundreds of times before. The marker text read: CHARLES COGSWELL DOE (1830-1896) Rollinsford was the home of Charles C. Doe. Jurist, Judge of the Supreme Court and Chief Justice from 1876- 1896. Upon graduation from Dartmouth College in 1849, he studied law at Harvard. His outstanding opinions as Chief Justice indicate his unusual legal attainments and left an indelible impression on the law of New Hampshire. It was erected in 1972 by State of New Hampshire. It is New Hampshire Marker # 88. I think it’s a great idea to have these markers to commemorate historic places and people o that future generations can learn about a state’s history in a fun way. I rate this marker at 4.0. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
4.0New Hampshire Historic Marker William & Mary Raids(1 review) - NH STATE HISTORIC MARKER #4 HONORING 1774 RAIDS ON CASTLE WILLIAM & MARY Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks During the time of COVID-19, with many attractions closed, visiting some of the New Hampshire State Historic Markers provided some outdoor activity and educational opportunities. Heading for present-day Fort Constitution, I stopped to visit New Hampshire Historic Marker #4 titled William & Mary Raids. As a historian with a primary interest in the Colonial and Early American periods, this historic area and the events that took place here have special meaning to me. The marker commemorates militia raids two nights in a row on December 14th and 15th of 1774 at the fort which was known then as Castle William & Mary. Local Patriots had been warned by Paul Revere on December 13th that British forces were coming to remove all arms and munitions from the fort. That would leave Portsmouth vulnerable to attack from pirates, other foreign powers, and Native Americans. So, about 400 men came and stormed the fort. They took canons, muskets, and munitions that were scattered about to several towns. Exeter and Durham were chief places. These raids took place over four months before the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts April 19, 1775. The raid are considered early events in the American Revolutionary War. As a historian, I really like these roadside historic markers. Stopping to read them is a fun and easy way to learn about the history of an area, especially for the youngsters. I rate the Oyster River Massacre marker at 4.75. Its proximity to the original fort and the scenic surroundings which include Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse make this a special place to me. Visits to the marker and nearby fort are free. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
5.0The John Sullivan House(1 review) - MAJOR GENERAL JOHN SULLIVAN ~ NH HISTORIC MARKER #89, MEMORIAL & HIS HOME Historic Sites See more..
5.0The Powder House(1 review) - IMPORTANT HISTORIC SITE & A WALKING TRAIL Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Historic Walking Areas
4.0Newington Town Church(1 review) - HISTORIC CLASSIC WHITE NEW ENGLAND CHURCH Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Churches & Cathedrals
Historically, the present-day Newington Town Church, United Church of Christ was known as the Meeting House and later as the Newington Congregational Church. Built in 1712, it is the oldest church in the United States to be continuously operated by Congregationalists. The original style was Federal. During renovations in 1838, the two-section bell tower with pinnacles, sometimes called finials, was added. These reflect the Greek Revival style. Newington Town Church is a classic pretty white New England church. When traveling through Newington, I frequently make the two-mile detour off the Spaulding Turnpike to see this church and some other nearby buildings in the town’s former center. The stop here is a step back in time to the Colonial and Early American periods which are my primary interests in history. The 1838 additions give me insight into construction styles that some of my ancestors saw in the years following their 1832 arrival in New England. As a historian, I appreciate the preservation work that goes into maintaining this and the other buildings. In 2012, I celebrated the church’s 300th anniversary with the congregation. For its scenic setting and classic architecture, I rate the Newington Town Church at 4.50 and recommend a visit to see it and the surrounding buildings. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
4.0Newington Old Town Hall(1 review) - HISTORIC TOWN HALL THAT HOUSED A SCHOOL Spent < 1 hour Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings The red brick Old Town Hall was built during the Victorian Era in 1872. It also contained a school for all 8 grades. It is adjacent to the Langdon Public Library. When traveling through Newington, I frequently make the two-mile detour off the Spaulding Turnpike to see the 1712 Newington Town Church, this Old Town Hall, the library, and some other nearby historic buildings. Visiting the cluster of buildings here is a step back in time. As a historian, I appreciate the preservation of this and the other nearby historic buildings. On my most recent visit, I met a town employee who told me that his father attended school at the Old Town Hall and that he attended the Stone School across the street until sometime in the 1950’s after Pease Air Force Base came in, and the noise from the military jets forced the town to build a new school further away. For its historic value, setting, and well-kept condition, I rate the Old Town Hall at 4.25 and recommend a visit to this and the other nearby historic buildings. If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.See more..
