New Hampshire State House
This is the New Hampshire State House in Concord, one of the most historically significant and enduring capitol buildings in the United States.
Built between 1816 and 1819, it holds a unique distinction. It is the oldest state capitol in the country where the legislature still meets in its original chambers. This is not just a preserved landmark, but a place where the work of government has continued for over two centuries.
The architecture reflects the early vision of democracy. Designed in the Greek Revival style with tall columns, a formal portico and symmetry were meant to echo the ideals of ancient Greece. Constructed from New Hampshire granite, it is both physically and symbolically rooted in the state it serves.
The gold dome, added in the 1860s, rises above it all and has become one of the defining images of Concord. Topped with an eagle, it stands as a visible reminder of both state and nation.
Inside, the building continues to house the legislature, the governor’s office, and the executive council, making it the active heart of New Hampshire’s government.
Standing in front of this magnificent building is a source of pride for being from Concord. It is not just a place I have visited, it is a place I have worked. And even more, it is a place where my mother also worked. That connection changes the way I see it. The history here is not only something I observe it is something I feel connected to, across generations.
Read More From Nancy
The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch
At the front of the New Hampshire State House lawn stands the granite arch that quietly frames everything beyond it: The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch. The State House itself was completed in 1819, built of locally quarried granite and designed to reflect both permanence and simplicity. It remains the oldest state capital in the United States […]
Christian Scientist Church
Some buildings tell you exactly what they are the moment you stand in front of them, as does this church in Concord. Carved above the entrance are the words that define its origin: “A gift from Mary Baker G. Eddy…..to the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Concord, New Hampshire.” It is a simple statement, but […]
The Eagle Hotel
Growing up in Concord, the Eagle Hotel was simply part of the downtown landscape. By the time I was old enough to notice it, however, its days as a grand hotel were already over. The Eagle Hotel closed its doors in 1961, when I was just a child, so I never had the opportunity to […]
