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New Hampshire historical markers

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Example of a New Hampshire historical marker

The U.S. state of New Hampshire has, since 1958,[1] placed historical markers at locations that are deemed significant to New Hampshire history. The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources (DHR) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) are jointly responsible for the historical marker program.[2] The program is authorized by RSA 227 C:4, X, and RSA 236:40 to 44.[3] As of August 2024, DHR has installed 291 markers, although several have been retired or refurbished.[4][5]

Markers

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New Hampshire's historical markers are green with white text; the state seal sits atop each one. Generally, there is a title line and up to 12 lines of text, each of which has no more than 45 characters.[3] Some markers note the year they were installed—it may be centered under the main text (early 2000s to present) or right-justified under the main text (1980s through early 2000s), although there are some visible exceptions—while on older markers it is not listed.[6]

Any individual or group may propose a marker to commemorate significant New Hampshire places, persons, or events. Requests must be accompanied by a petition for the marker, signed by at least 20 New Hampshire citizens.[3] The state's Division of Historical Resources has final decision rights for all markers.[3] Markers funded by the state must be located along a state highway.[3] A "co-operative marker," which must be funded by whoever proposes it, can be located on a locally maintained road or on municipal land.[3] As of October 2021, the state's website listed the cost of a marker at $2000 to $2500.[7]

Markers generally have the same text on both sides, with some exceptions. Marker number one in Pittsburg only has text on one side.[a] Marker number 122 in Carroll features the Mount Washington Hotel on one side and the Bretton Woods Monetary Conference on the other; several other markers also have different topics on each side. A few markers appear to have unique layouts:

Marker status

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A roster of markers, which is periodically published by the state, lists the status of each marker.[4] The vast majority of markers are "Installed", while a few may be "Out for Repair". Several markers have been "Retired", which indicates permanent removal. A New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker Advisory Committee has existed since the summer of 2020, "created and convened to complete a systematic review of existing markers for lack of historical context among other problems."[10][11]

Retired markers

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In 2023, the state published (and revised) criteria whereby markers may be retired:[2]

  1. The marker contains errors of fact
  2. The condition of the marker is such that the cost of repair approaches the cost of a new marker
  3. The marker requires refurbishment, but its historical or educational value is "severely limited"

Since March 2022, the following markers have been listed as retired:[4]

Marker Quest

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In May 2022, the Division of Historical Resources announced a Historical Highway Marker Quest program, encouraging people to visit the state's markers, and offering a free sticker to anyone who visits 10 markers and submits a form listing them.[12]

List of markers

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Marker number 114 in Portsmouth

The following pages list each marker, ordered by marker numbers as chronologically assigned by the state.[4] Pages each contain 25 entries, noting each marker's city or town, and providing the text on the marker.

Markers by community

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The below table alphabetically lists each city or town that has at least one historical marker.[5] Detail of individual markers can be viewed via the above list of markers. The capital city of Concord has the most markers, with 14 (one of which has been retired).

City or town Marker numbers
Allenstown 193†, 205, 211, 230†
Alton 164, 288
Amherst 3
Andover 54
Antrim 178, 228
Ashland 100, 163
Barnstead 201
Barrington 96, 212, 279
Bartlett 109
Bath 121, 217
Bean's Grant 45
Bedford 102
Belmont 235†
Bennington 153
Benton 245
Berlin 159, 215, 254, 255
Bethlehem 198, 218, 257
Boscawen 49, 256
Bow 36‡
Bradford 108
Brentwood 180, 249
Bristol 269
Brookline 271
Campton 196
Canaan 21, 246
Candia 141, 237†
Canterbury 283
Carroll 30, 87, 122†, 233, 274
Center Harbor 7
Charlestown 2, 117, 177
Chester 14, 139
Chesterfield 60, 95, 216
Claremont 41, 57, 188
Clarksville 115
Concord 66, 67, 80, 105, 110, 125, 128,
147, 148, 175, 184, 236†, 238, 278‡
Conway 38
Cornish 16, 76, 134, 158, 265
Danville 169, 258
Deerfield 25, 145, 183, 214
Derry 48, 58, 126, 266†
Dixville 171
Dover 51, 92, 165, 264, 282, 289
Dunbarton 111
Durham 8, 50, 89, 154
Easton 200
Effingham 83
Enfield 202, 241
Epsom 199
Exeter 32, 97, 131, 161, 240
Farmington 98
Fitzwilliam 99
Francestown 23, 43
Franconia 9, 263
Franklin 91, 129
Fremont 142, 156, 157, 167, 170, 277
Gilford 118, 239
Gilmanton 17
Gilsum 168
Goshen 140
Grafton 251, 252
Greenfield 130
Greenland 113
Hampstead 247
Hampton 28, 119
Hampton Falls 37
Hanover 261
Hart's Location 186, 213
Haverhill 56, 104, 136, 160, 190
Hebron 223
Hill 162
Hillsborough 65, 107, 203
Hinsdale 112, 204
Holderness 39
Hollis 260
Hooksett 132
Hopkinton 195
Jaffrey 13
Jefferson 19, 152, 229
Keene 69, 86, 226
Kingston 46
Laconia 135, 172
Lancaster 84, 173, 219
Lempster 182
Lincoln 224
Lisbon 70
Littleton 71, 185
Londonderry 166
Loudon 15
Madison 207
Manchester 124, 208†, 225
Mason 35
Merrimack 29, 79
Milan 227, 284
Milford 133, 268
Nashua 267
New Boston 146
New Castle 4
New Durham 222
New Ipswich 10, 101, 137
Newbury 81
Newfields 272
Newington 151
Newmarket 209, 290
Newport 6, 106
North Hampton 62
Northwood 24, 181
Nottingham 259
Orford 33
Ossipee 20
Pelham 176
Pembroke 144, 187, 250†
Peterborough 206, 210, 244, 270
Pinkham's Grant 11
Pittsburg 1
Pittsfield 197
Plainfield 77
Plymouth 179, 189
Portsmouth 75, 114, 127†, 194, 234, 281, 286
Randolph 220
Raymond 85‡, 273
Richmond 59
Rindge 138
Rochester 42, 191
Rollinsford 88
Rumney 55‡, 174
Rye 18, 63, 78
Salem 72, 221, 253
Sandown 26
Sandwich 82, 248
Seabrook 103, 120
Sharon 68
Somersworth 280, 287
Stark 150
Stewartstown 47, 64
Stoddard 27, 52
Strafford 291
Stratford 34
Sugar Hill 73
Surry 93
Sutton 44
Swanzey 22, 232
Tamworth 31, 90, 155
Temple 12
Tilton 149, 262
Tuftonboro 276, 285
Wakefield 5, 123
Walpole 61
Warner 243
Warren 231, 275
Washington 94
Weare 143, 192
Westmoreland 74
Wilmot 40
Wolfeboro 53, 116, 242

† denotes markers with a different inscription on each side
‡ denotes markers listed as "retired"

Notes

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  1. ^ Marker number 55 in Rumney, now retired, was also reported as being blank on one side.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Brindley, Michael (January 24, 2014). "Marking History: Republic Of Indian Stream In Pittsburg". nhpr.org. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "New Hampshire Historical Highway Marker Program Policy" (PDF). NH.gov. May 12, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "What You Need To Know To Request A New Hampshire State Highway Historical Marker". nh.gov. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "List of Markers by Marker Number" (PDF). nh.gov. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "List of Markers by Town" (PDF). nh.gov. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "New Hampshire Historical Markers". Flickr. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "How to Request a NH Historical Highway Marker" (PDF). NH.gov. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Baker River Historical Marker". hmdb.org. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  9. ^ Brown, Janice (May 22, 2008). "Madison New Hampshire's Aviation Innovators: The Amazing Granville Family". cowhampshireblog.com. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  10. ^ "How many markers are installed each year?". nh.gov. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Who is left out? Re-evaluating NH's Roadside Markers and Sharing Untold Stories Offer Input for New Hampshire Preservation Plan (Virtual Gathering)". nhpreservation.org. October 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  12. ^ Angers, Shelly (May 2, 2022). "NH Historical Highway Marker Quest launches in time for Historic Preservation Month". nh.gov (Press release). N.H. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. Retrieved May 28, 2022.

Further reading

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