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 [update] , DHR has installed 291 markers, although several have been retired or refurbished. [4] [5]
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 [update] , 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. [lower-alpha 1] 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:
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]
In 2023, the state published (and revised) criteria whereby markers may be retired: [2]
Since March 2022 [update] , the following markers have been listed as retired: [4]
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]
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.
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"
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