Christa McAuliffe’s Statue

On the lawn of New Hampshire State House stands a statue honoring Christa McAuliffe, a figure whose story is deeply connected to both New Hampshire and the nation.

Christa McAuliffe was a social studies teacher from Concord, chosen in 1985 as part of NASA’s Teacher in Space Program. She represented something hopeful and accessible, that an ordinary classroom teacher could step beyond the boundaries of Earth and bring that experience back to students everywhere. She taught at Concord High School, where she was known for bringing history to life in her classroom and for her connection with her students.  

In January 1986, she boarded the space shuttle Challenger. Just 73 seconds after liftoff, the shuttle broke apart, and all seven crew members were lost. The tragedy was felt across the nations, but especially here in Concord, where she had lived and taught.  

The statue on the State House was placed as a lasting tribute from the people of New Hampshire, ensuring she would be remembered in the most public and civic space available. It was dedicated in 1990, just a few years after the tragedy.

The monument was created by sculptor Benjamin Victor, whose work sought to capture not an astronaut in a suit, but a teacher. Standing on the State House grounds, her presence is more recent, more personal. It reminds visitors that history is not something distant but is something that unfolds within a lifetime.  

Christa McAuliffe represents the belief that learning, exploration and possibility belong to everyone.