Concord's main street is known for drawing visitors to its small shops that line it. But there is a side of Concor
d's downtown area that often goes unnoticed by the average visitor. I'm speaking of the history that the city has to offer. Historical walking tours guide you through downtown Concord giving you a window into the city's past.
The tour begins at the State House. With its gold dome roof, it is by far the most recognizable landmark in the city. A look inside l
eads you through the Hall of Flags and up to such rooms as the Senate Chamber, where the 24 representatives meet, and the Representatives Hall that seats 400 members of the house. New Hampshire's House of Representatives is the fourth largest in the English speaking world, with only the British House of Commons, the Indian House of People, and the U.S. House of Representatives having more members.
The walk leads from North Main Street to South Main Street pointing out such historic landmarks as the Eagle Hotel, once a ce
nter for political activity in the state, Eagle Square, the Statesman Building, which once housed on of the city's newspapers and was the first in Concord to be lit with electricity, and Phenix Hall, where Abraham Lincoln spoke in 1860.
Feel free to stop at the Museum of New Hampshire History in Eagle Square.
The exhibit includes a Native American dugout canoe, political memorabilia, early firearms, and one of the best examples of a Concord Stagecoach.
Another stop on the tour is the Benjamin Kimball House and Capitol Theater. The building once housed one of Concord's wealthiest citizens; Kimball made a great contribution to the development of New Hampshire's railroads. Purchased by the Masonic order after his death, the Capitol Theater was added in 1925. The theater and
house make up what is now The Capitol Center for the Arts. A look inside the house can be arranged in advance.
The historical walking tour of downtown Concord gives you a glimpse into the city's past, a view that is quite too often overlooked. Self-guided tour booklets can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce located at 40 Commercial Street.
~ Kathryn Ferrara for NHLiving.com