New Hampshire offers a remarkable concentration of natural beauty and historical depth in a compact New England state. From the towering White Mountains and the iconic summit of Mount Washington to the serene shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and the pristine Atlantic coastline at Hampton Beach, visitors encounter dramatic landscapes at every turn. Portsmouth anchors the seacoast with its beautifully preserved colonial architecture and a thriving culinary scene, while the Lakes Region provides summer watersports and leisurely cruises. Fall foliage transforms the state into a mosaic of crimson and gold each October, drawing leaf-peepers from across the Northeast. The state's 'Live Free or Die' ethos permeates everything from its lack of sales and income taxes to its independent political culture.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped New Hampshire.
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1
Martin Pring explores Piscataqua River — first documented European contact
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2
David Thompson establishes first European settlement at Odiorne's Point (present-day Rye)
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3
Province of New Hampshire formally established as a separate royal colony from Massachusetts
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4
NH adopts its own constitution (January 5) — first colony to establish independent government
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5
NH ratifies US Constitution on June 21 — becoming the 9th state and the ratification that put the Constitution into effect
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6
Dartmouth College controversy; landmark US Supreme Court case (1819) protects private colleges from state takeover
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7
Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester grows into world's largest textile complex
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8
Mount Washington Cog Railway opens — world's first mountain-climbing railway
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9
Bretton Woods Conference establishes IMF and World Bank at Mount Washington Hotel
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10
'Old Man of the Mountain' granite profile collapses; remains on state quarter design
Historical sites
Places where New Hampshire's past comes alive.
Strawbery Banke Museum
Where: Portsmouth, NH
Admission: $22 adult, $11 child (USD)
Canterbury Shaker Village
Where: Canterbury, NH
Admission: $17 adult, $8 youth (USD)
Fort Constitution (Fort William and Mary)
Where: New Castle, NH
Admission: Free
New Hampshire State House
Where: Concord, NH
Admission: Free
Amoskeag Millyard Museum
Where: Manchester, NH
Admission: $9 adult, $6 child (USD)
American Independence Museum
Where: Exeter, NH
Admission: $8 adult, $3 child (USD)