Concord Landmarks and Monuments

(Concord, New Hampshire - NH, USA)

Every state capital needs its own grandiose Capitol building resembling a palace, and here in Concord it is the New Hampshire State House on North Main Street that serves this purpose. This important state landmark was designed in 1814, then constructed between the years of 1816 and 1819 at the cost of just over US$80,000. Costs were kept to a minimum where possible and prison inmates were used for much of the stone masonry work.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) since 1978, the imposing red-brick Eagle Hotel building is another local landmark of note. This former hotel dates back to the late 1820s and is perhaps best remembered for its appearance in the best-selling American novel Coniston (published in 1906).

Also standing out on the Concord cityscape is the New Phenix Hall and the Walker Woodman House, both of which live on North Main Street, being relatively close to the State House Plaza. On Horseshoe Pond Lane, the stately Pierce Manse will grab your attention and was built here in the middle of the 1830s.

New Hampshire State House

Address: 107 North Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Tel: +1 603 271 1110
Architectural highlights at the New Hampshire State House include a Greek Revival facade, a portico with large stone columns and a balcony, and an almost obligatory golden dome, which is topped with an eagle and supported by a lantern structure. There are many interesting features, paintings and murals inside the building, while the main rooms include the Doric Hall, the House Chamber and the Senate Chamber.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 16:30
Admission: free

Eagle Hotel

Address: 110 North Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Closed in 1961 and now home to a mixture of businesses, shops and private apartments, including the Tandy's Top Shelf Restaurant and the Concord Retail Gallery, the five-floor Eagle Hotel was strategically positioned close to the New Hampshire State House and due to its proximity and grandeur, hosted many important political events and dinners. Amongst the most famous guests who have stayed or dined here are Charles Lindbergh (American aviator) and Jefferson Finis Davis (American statesman), as well as Franklin Pierce (14th US president), Ulysses S. Grant (18th US president), Rutherford Hayes (19th US president), Benjamin Harrison (23rd US president) and Richard Nixon (37th US president).
Open hours: view from outside, shops and other businesses open daily
Admission: free

New Phenix Hall

Address: 40 North Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Close to the former Eagle Hotel building on North Main Street is the New Phenix Hall. This prominent landmark was built as a replacement to the 'Old' Phenix Hall, which was destroyed in 1893 following major fire damage. Both the old and new halls have been used for many significant political gatherings and sporting events over the years, which were often based in their spacious auditoriums. In 1860, Abraham Lincoln spoke here shortly before his presidency the following spring, while Theodore Roosevelt also made a speech here in 1912, three years after his presidential term had been completed.
Open hours: by arrangement
Admission: free

Walker Woodman House

Address: 276 North Main Street, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
The Walker Woodman House is the oldest house still standing in the city of Concord and one of the most historic two-storey houses in the whole of New England. Built between the years of 1733 and 1735 for Reverend Timothy Walker, the residence is typical of a minister's house from that particular period in history. In the mid-19th century, the house was modernized in a Victorian style by Walker's grandson, who also constructed the adjacent cottage. Members of the Walker family continue to live in this house today.
Open hours: by arrangement
Admission: free

Pierce Manse

Address: 14 Horseshoe Pond Lane, Concord, New Hampshire (NH), 03301, USA
Tel: +1 603 225 4555
This historic landmark resides at the very northern side of Main Street, next to Horseshoe Pond. Local lawyer Franklin Pierce lived here with his young family between the years of 1842 and 1848, before being elected as the 14th President of the United States in 1853. Sadly, all three of Franklin's children died, including his son Benjamin who died just before his inauguration as president, when Franklin famously chose to place his hand on a book of law rather than the traditional bible. The future of the mansion became uncertain in the early 1970s and it was scheduled for demolition. However, community volunteers were able to painstakingly relocate the building from its original downtown location on Montgomery Street, to its present site on Horseshoe Pond Lane, where it opened to the public in 1974.
Open hours: guided tours by appointment, mid-June to August, Tuesday to Saturday - 11:00 to 15:00; September to early October, Friday and Saturday - 12:00 to 15:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children and seniors