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Lilac bushes once lined so many yards here that Rochester still calls itself the Lilac City, and the purple common lilac is New Hampshire's state flower. The city of roughly 32,000 sits in Strafford County where the Cocheco River and its falls powered a busy nineteenth-century mill town.
Shoe factories, woolen mills and the Spaulding fiber works made Rochester an industrial center, and the brick blocks of North Main Street still reflect that era. The 1908 City Hall holds the Rochester Opera House, famous for a mechanical floor that can be tilted for theater seating or leveled for a ballroom. Villages such as Gonic and East Rochester grew up around their own mills.
Today visitors come for shows at the opera house, walks along the Cocheco, and the rail trail toward Farmington. Dover and the Seacoast are about 20 minutes away, Portsmouth roughly half an hour, and the Lakes Region and Lake Winnipesaukee are an easy drive north.
A 1908 theater inside Rochester City Hall, known for its rare mechanical floor that can be sloped for theater seating or leveled flat for dances and banquets. It hosts musicals, concerts, comedy and touring acts. Check the season calendar and book ahead for popular weekend shows.
The handsome 1908 brick and stone City Hall anchors downtown on Wakefield Street and wraps around the opera house. Its clock tower is a familiar landmark for anyone walking Main Street. Step into the lobby during business hours to see the historic interior, then cross to the river.
Rochester's public library opened in 1905 with funding from Andrew Carnegie, and its classical brick building is one of downtown's finest. Inside are reading rooms, local history materials and community programs. Visitors are welcome to browse and use the free Wi-Fi.
A small museum run by volunteers that preserves the story of Rochester's mills, shoe factories, schools and families. Displays include photographs, uniforms, tools and everyday objects from the Lilac City's past. Opening hours are limited, so check the society's schedule before going.
The large brick Gonic Manufacturing Company mill on the Cocheco River once produced woolen cloth and gave the village of Gonic its identity. The restored building now holds apartments, but the mill, dam and surrounding houses still form a vivid picture of a New England mill village.
Sections of walkway and small parks follow the Cocheco River through downtown Rochester, with views of the falls, old mill foundations and the arched bridge. It is a pleasant short walk between shops and cafes on North Main Street. Spring brings the strongest water over the falls.
A former Boston and Maine rail line turned multi-use trail that runs from Rochester north to Farmington through woods, wetlands and farmland. It is popular for walking, biking and snowmobiling in winter. The surface is packed gravel and sand in places, so wider tires help.
A city-owned conservation forest with tall white pines and short looping trails close to downtown Rochester. It is a peaceful spot for a morning walk, birdwatching or letting kids run in the shade. Trails are unpaved and can be muddy in early spring, so wear sturdy shoes.
North and South Main Street hold late nineteenth-century brick commercial blocks with independent shops, diners, pubs and restaurants. Downtown hosts seasonal events and a holiday parade. Park once near City Hall and explore on foot, ending with a walk along the Cocheco River.
A stately Georgian Revival house on Wakefield Street that was once the home of New Hampshire governor Huntley Spaulding, now run as an inn with event and dining rooms. Its period architecture and gardens make it a fine stop for a meal or overnight stay near downtown.
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Log in to add photosPhoto: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Photo: Unknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
Photo: John Phelan, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jon Platek, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
