New Hampshire is a small state that has a lot of character. With centuries of history, the story of America evolved here. The state played an instrumental role in both the War of Independence and the Industrial Revolution, yet there is also history that most people don’t hear about. The state has many hidden facts that many people don’t know about.
- The first New Hampshire settlement was at Odiorne Point.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Today, Odoirne Point is home to the Seacoast Science Center and a large state park; yet Odiorne has historical significance as well. Odiorne served as the home for the first English colony in New Hampshire. In 1623, a party of Englishmen came to fish and trade with the natives of the area. John Odiorne arrived in 1660 and helped to expand the colony that would later bear his name. The success of the colony allowed for further exploration and the founding of cities like Portsmouth.
- New Hampshire was home to a POW camp.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Stark, New Hampshire is a small, picturesque town nestled in northern New Hampshire. This tiny town took on historical significance during World War II: during the war, the town severed as the home of a Prisoner Of War camp.
A local CCC camp was transformed into a POW camp and approximately 250 German and Austrian prisoners were held here between 1944 and 1946.
- Early settlers brought the first potato crop to the “New World.”
Photo by Colleen O’Connell In 1719, a group of Scotch-Irish immigrants settled in Nutfield, in an area that would later become known Londonderry. Here they built cabins and created a small settlement, but their gardens left the biggest impact. These settlers planted what would later become the first potato crop in North America!
- Our trees are fit for royalty.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell During Colonial times, the British needed masts for their ships, but by the 1700’s, England (and most of Europe) had been picked clean of suitable trees.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell
Photo by Colleen O’Connell This is where New Hampshire came in to save the royal ships! The dense woods were full of Eastern White Pines. The trees are tall, easy to work with, and were considered perfect for the masts of the King’s fleet.
- The border is not where you think it is.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Many people assume that the border between New Hampshire and Vermont falls in the center of the Connecticut River, but this is incorrect!
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Both states fought over who owned the river and the border dispute was brought to court in the 1930’s. It was ruled that the border between New Hampshire and Vermont falls on the low water mark of the Vermont side, which puts the entire width of the Connecticut River in New Hampshire!
- The famous Flume Gorge was discovered by a 93-year-old woman on a fishing trip.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell The Flume Gorge is one of the biggest tourist attractions in New Hampshire. Many visitors come to marvel at the geological wonder. The discovery of the place is an interesting story: the gorge was discovered in 1808 by Aunt Jess Guernsey while out on a fishing trip. She had lived in the region for years, yet discovered it at 93 years old.
- Cog Railway employees used a terrifying escalator to get to work everyday.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell The Mount Washington Cog Railway, a major New Hampshire landmark, was built in 1860’s. The railroad is an engineering feat and was the first of its kind in the world! The crews that built the railroad had to climb the mountain daily, so to minimize the time they took to get down the steep hill, they invented “Devils Shingles.” These sliding boards fit over the cog racks, enabling the workers to ride the railway down the hill in a fraction of the time.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell The employees could get to the bottom in a few short minutes, yet the boards were ultimately too dangerous to use. In 1906 the construction of new “Devils Shingles” were banned after several employee deaths, but the Mount Washington Cog Railway was updated and continued to be used by the rail companies until the 1980’s, when it was purchased by businessmen and it was revitalized to carry passengers. You can visit and ride the (much safer) “Devils Shingles” in Coos County. They are still an intriguing part of our state history.
- We have the oldest resort town in the United States.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Wolfboro is known for its sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee, but the town also has a lesser-known title: the oldest resort town in the United States. It was incorporated in 1770 by a group of men from Portsmouth. They were given a land grant by then-governor Benning Wentworth.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Later Benning’s nephew John built a country estate near the lake. This large estate helped establish Wolfeboro as a summer community. Its beautiful views and character have helped it grow into the bustling summer destination that it is today.
- The mills in Manchester played a major role in the Industrial Revolution
Photo by Colleen O’Connell One of the most recognizable features of Manchester is the mill. The large brick buildings line the banks of the Merrimack, even decades after the looms were silenced.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell During the Industrial Revolution, Manchester grew to be one of the predominate industrial towns in the United States, thanks to the Amoskeag Mill Company. At its heyday, the Amoskeag Mill Company ran 64 mills in Manchester.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell Six men founded the company, and their efforts changed the face of Manchester forever.
- We’re home to the first free public library in the United States!
Photo by Colleen O’Connell It is hard to find a town in the United States that isn’t home to a public library, but this was not always the case. Few people know that the first free public library was established in Peterborough. The library was opened in 1833 and is considered the oldest public library in the nation. It is still in operation today!
New Hampshire is an incredible place where history comes alive. The history of the state isn’t just in the museums; it lays down in the winding back roads in the hidden corners. New Hampshire is a place or pioneers, risk takers, and plenty of things things you may not expect. Next time you are visiting, keep your eyes open! You may just learn something that you never expected to.
Photo by Colleen O’Connell
Today, Odoirne Point is home to the Seacoast Science Center and a large state park; yet Odiorne has historical significance as well. Odiorne served as the home for the first English colony in New Hampshire. In 1623, a party of Englishmen came to fish and trade with the natives of the area. John Odiorne arrived in 1660 and helped to expand the colony that would later bear his name. The success of the colony allowed for further exploration and the founding of cities like Portsmouth.
Stark, New Hampshire is a small, picturesque town nestled in northern New Hampshire. This tiny town took on historical significance during World War II: during the war, the town severed as the home of a Prisoner Of War camp.
A local CCC camp was transformed into a POW camp and approximately 250 German and Austrian prisoners were held here between 1944 and 1946.
In 1719, a group of Scotch-Irish immigrants settled in Nutfield, in an area that would later become known Londonderry. Here they built cabins and created a small settlement, but their gardens left the biggest impact. These settlers planted what would later become the first potato crop in North America!
During Colonial times, the British needed masts for their ships, but by the 1700’s, England (and most of Europe) had been picked clean of suitable trees.
This is where New Hampshire came in to save the royal ships! The dense woods were full of Eastern White Pines. The trees are tall, easy to work with, and were considered perfect for the masts of the King’s fleet.
Many people assume that the border between New Hampshire and Vermont falls in the center of the Connecticut River, but this is incorrect!
Both states fought over who owned the river and the border dispute was brought to court in the 1930’s. It was ruled that the border between New Hampshire and Vermont falls on the low water mark of the Vermont side, which puts the entire width of the Connecticut River in New Hampshire!
The Flume Gorge is one of the biggest tourist attractions in New Hampshire. Many visitors come to marvel at the geological wonder. The discovery of the place is an interesting story: the gorge was discovered in 1808 by Aunt Jess Guernsey while out on a fishing trip. She had lived in the region for years, yet discovered it at 93 years old.
The Mount Washington Cog Railway, a major New Hampshire landmark, was built in 1860’s. The railroad is an engineering feat and was the first of its kind in the world! The crews that built the railroad had to climb the mountain daily, so to minimize the time they took to get down the steep hill, they invented “Devils Shingles.” These sliding boards fit over the cog racks, enabling the workers to ride the railway down the hill in a fraction of the time.
The employees could get to the bottom in a few short minutes, yet the boards were ultimately too dangerous to use. In 1906 the construction of new “Devils Shingles” were banned after several employee deaths, but the Mount Washington Cog Railway was updated and continued to be used by the rail companies until the 1980’s, when it was purchased by businessmen and it was revitalized to carry passengers. You can visit and ride the (much safer) “Devils Shingles” in Coos County. They are still an intriguing part of our state history.
Wolfboro is known for its sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee, but the town also has a lesser-known title: the oldest resort town in the United States. It was incorporated in 1770 by a group of men from Portsmouth. They were given a land grant by then-governor Benning Wentworth.
Later Benning’s nephew John built a country estate near the lake. This large estate helped establish Wolfeboro as a summer community. Its beautiful views and character have helped it grow into the bustling summer destination that it is today.
One of the most recognizable features of Manchester is the mill. The large brick buildings line the banks of the Merrimack, even decades after the looms were silenced.
During the Industrial Revolution, Manchester grew to be one of the predominate industrial towns in the United States, thanks to the Amoskeag Mill Company. At its heyday, the Amoskeag Mill Company ran 64 mills in Manchester.
Six men founded the company, and their efforts changed the face of Manchester forever.
It is hard to find a town in the United States that isn’t home to a public library, but this was not always the case. Few people know that the first free public library was established in Peterborough. The library was opened in 1833 and is considered the oldest public library in the nation. It is still in operation today!
Do you know any fascinating tidbits of history about New Hampshire to share? Tell us about them in the comments!
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