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Concord governs New Hampshire from a granite State House with a golden dome, and since 1819 the legislature has met in the same chambers, a record no other state capitol matches. Yet the capital feels like a small New England city: a walkable Main Street lined with bookstores and cafes, steeples rising above brick blocks, and the Merrimack River curving past on the east.
Settled in the 1720s as Penacook and renamed Concord in 1765, the city earned fame for two exports. The Abbot-Downing Company built the Concord Coach, the stagecoach that carried mail and passengers across the American West, and Concord granite from nearby quarries went into the Library of Congress. President Franklin Pierce made his home here and is buried in Old North Cemetery, and the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center honors two New Hampshire space pioneers.
Concord sits at the crossroads of the state. Canterbury Shaker Village is about 20 minutes north, Lake Winnipesaukee under an hour, and the White Mountains and the Seacoast are each an easy day trip.
Completed in 1819, this granite capitol is the oldest in the country whose legislature still meets in its original chambers. Visitors can take free self-guided or guided tours, see the Hall of Flags and portraits of New Hampshire leaders, and stroll the plaza with its statues. Start at the visitor center inside.
Named for Concord teacher Christa McAuliffe and astronaut Alan Shepard, this science center features a planetarium, hands-on exhibits on space, earth science and aviation, and a full-size Mercury Redstone rocket replica outside. Planetarium shows run on a schedule, so book a time when you arrive.
Housed in a handsome 1911 granite building on Park Street beside the State House, the society's collections cover New Hampshire history through furniture, paintings, documents and objects, including a famous Concord Coach. Check for current exhibitions, and pair it with a walk through the State House grounds.
The only home Franklin Pierce, the fourteenth president, ever owned, this modest Greek Revival house was his family residence in the 1840s. It was moved to its current site to save it from demolition. Volunteer guides lead tours in summer and early fall, showing family furnishings and Pierce artifacts.
Concord's oldest burying ground, in use since the 1730s, is the resting place of President Franklin Pierce and his family along with early settlers and Revolutionary War soldiers. Weathered slate stones line its quiet paths. It sits on North State Street, a short drive or long walk from downtown.
Concord's Main Street runs past the State House, nineteenth-century brick blocks, independent bookshops, cafes and restaurants, with wide sidewalks rebuilt for walking. Summer Market Days fill the street with vendors and music. Stop at Gibson's Bookstore nearby and grab a coffee on the way.
Built in 1927 as the Capitol Theatre, this restored venue on South Main Street presents touring musicians, comedians, dance and Broadway-style shows. Its Egyptian-inspired details recall the movie palace era. Check the season lineup and buy tickets ahead for popular concerts.
A Victorian mansion and carriage house on North Main Street that now serves as an arts center with classes, studios, exhibitions and landscaped grounds open to the public. The house preserves period interiors. Walk the gardens on a summer day and look for shows by local artists.
Laid out in the late 1800s, White Park offers shady paths, a pond used for ice skating in winter, a playground, a summer pool and open lawns just west of downtown. It is a favorite of local families in every season. Bring skates when the pond freezes and the city clears the ice.
On the Merrimack River in north Concord, this recreation area has wooded trails along the water, remnants of an old dam and a boat launch for paddlers. It is a quiet spot for birdwatching and fishing. Trails can be muddy in spring, so wear waterproof boots.
A developing rail trail on an old railroad corridor heading west from Concord toward Lake Sunapee, with finished sections that include a bridge over the Contoocook River. The flat stone path suits walkers and cyclists. Check the trail group's map for the open segments and parking spots before you go.
A nonprofit independent cinema on South Main Street showing first-run independent, foreign and documentary films, along with special screenings and discussions. Its small theaters feel personal. Catch an evening showing after dinner downtown, and check the schedule for festivals and member events.
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