Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Join me on a journey through New Hampshire’s capital city and Downtown Concord! The city is loaded with history and character as you will find in the video and post below!

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The New Hampshire Historical Society

Downtown Concord, New Hampshire, and the nearby State Office Buildings were such a treat to explore! Concord is the capital city of New Hampshire and this post will only scratch the surface of the things to do and see there.

I visited the State House on two prior occasions during field trips with my daughters when they were young. Unfortunately, most of the government buildings were closed during this visit. Luckily, the New Hampshire Historical Society was at the top of the list as it was open.

After a bit of orientation, I found North and South State Streets which connect with North and South Main Streets. These formed a loop of sorts that put me right in the middle of everything.

First on my list was a visit to the New Hampshire Historical Society. The building did not disappoint! The massive granite structure is a tribute to the State’s nickname “The Granite State.”

New Hampshire Historical Society

A friendly receptionist greeted me at the entryway where I paid the $7 entry fee. Right away, I noticed the gorgeous marble and craftsmanship that went into the creation of the building. You can download the New Hampshire Historical Society app from the Google Play Store to aid in your tour of the facility. They offer both guided and self-tour options.

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Edward Tuck

A beautiful upper and lower rotunda invites you up a set of stairs to explore the historical artifacts. The eagle on the wall once adorned the State House. A plaque on the wall commemorates Edward Tuck, the wealthy lawyer, banker, diplomat, and philanthropist who financed the building.

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

Upper Rotunda New Hampshire Historical Society

Historic Artifacts

There were far too many historical artifacts for me to show in their entirety. The collection was both impressive in quantity and quality. They ranged from a 3,000-year-old bowl to paintings of the White Mountains. Shown below, are some pictures and captions of the pieces that stood out to me personally.

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

Finally, I purchased “Tuck’s Gift”  on my way out of the building in order to educate myself about some of the lesser-known details of this gorgeous building. There are times in life when you realize how fleeting all is.  Wandering through the New Hampshire Historical Society left me with that feeling.

Visit the “Home” page and view the New Hampshire historical markers to learn more about the state’s rich history. I will be adding more of these as they pop up during new adventures.

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Historic Downtown Concord

Having lived in Keene for close to 30 years, I had heard of comparisons between it and Concord. I was excited to park my car and explore the city on foot myself!

New Hampshire Historical Society

One of the first things I noticed was the exceptional number of church steeples that cover the skyline! Some of these buildings are truly stunning. One example, the First Church Of Christ Scientist, really caught my eye with its architectural beauty and towering presence.

New Hampshire Historical Society

Within a couple of blocks of the Historical Society are the New Hampshire State Library,  State House, and NH Legislature.

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

New Hampshire Historical Society

Concord Capitol Building

Concord Capitol Building

Concord Capitol Building

An eclectic mix

It didn’t take long to understand where the comparison between Keene and Concord came from. Clearly, Concord is a bigger city and the hub of New Hampshire’s government, but I could see the similarities. Downtown Concord has the same blend of old and new with an eclectic mix of retail and service-centered businesses. There was a steady stream of humanity buzzing about and it felt like a city that has adapted to the times and kept its downtown relevant.

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Downtown Concord, New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Cobblestone and Architecture

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Before long, daylight was fading and I found myself scanning the restaurants to celebrate my Concord adventure with some dinner. Vibes seemed to speak to me so I made it a point to circle back on my way back up Main Street. The Chop House burger, french fries, fried green beans, and a 603 Ale topped off a great day exploring Concord!

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

In summary, I would really encourage you to add New Hampshire’s capital city of Concord to your things to do in New Hampshire bucket list!  Explore it on foot as I did, and find your own memories! I will leave you with a few last pictures that called out as the sun began to set.

Downtown Concord, New Hampshire

Downtown Concord

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Downtown Concord, New Hampshire

Downtown Concord New Hampshire

Check out my post on the super fun Scenic RailRiders in Concord for something else to explore in the area!

Feel free to share some of your experiences or knowledge of Concord in the comments section below. Let me know some of your favorite places on the outskirts of the city and I will add them to my to-do list!

New Hampshire Live Free and Explore!

 

6 Comments

  1. Andrea

    Thank you! Great photos and was enjoyable to read with my morning coffee!
    Instead of cruising through as I always do I plan to take some time to enjoy the city and it’s history!

    Reply
    • admin

      Thank you, Andrea! It is fun to share these adventures with everyone!

      Reply
  2. Susan Huppi

    Nice job…great pictures…I love living nearby

    Reply
    • admin

      Thank you, Susan! It was great to explore a part of Concord. I will have to explore it more in the future.

      Reply
  3. Jean

    That was written so well and the pictures were great. Enjoyed reading it and learned a lot as well.

    Reply
    • admin

      Thank you Aunt Jean, I am glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

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