New Hampshire Scavenger Hunt
Say hello to New Hampshire, the Granite State—where rugged peaks scrape the sky and centuries of independence still echo down quiet town commons and forested byways. Here, the American story is carved into stone and spirit, shaped by the early grit of mountain settlers, the steady flow of the Connecticut and Merrimack Rivers, and the industrial power of mills that once hummed along the Amoskeag. This is a land where town meeting democracy took root and where “Live Free or Die” is not a slogan but a legacy. From the stone vaults of Concord to the cable-car trams of Cannon Mountain, from Usonian homes and Art Deco terminals to Greek churches with Googie flair, New Hampshire offers a panorama of invention, resilience, and beauty. It’s a state that has always lived comfortably at the intersection of preservation and progress, where the distant past and daring visions of the future share the same view.
The photos and stories collected here are a fast and fun way to learn the explanations behind the quirks, the traditions and the secrets that make New Hampshire uniquely New Hampshire. Who was the only singer of the Declaration of Independence whose descendants lived in his house for 200+ years? Solved. What was the first integrated professional baseball team in the United States of America? A mystery no more. Who was the first to say “Live free or die?”? Identified. What was “The Shot Not Heard Around the World?” Revealed. Why did the townsfolk of Peterborough decide to start the world’s first taxpayer-supported library? No one knows.
Where Gothic towers rose with pride Above a mill town’s pulsing tide. From shops below to civic might— Still governing with granite’s bite.
A railway that climbs where the air’s crisp and high, With gears that once reached to the clouds in the sky. Old Peppersass puffed to the summit with pride— The world’s first cog rail on a mountainside ride.
At 460 feet it spans with grace, A lattice truss in timeless place. From toll to free, it’s carried through— New England’s charm in timber true.
Where presidents once slept with care, And Pierce departed from here to swear. Though shutters closed, the stories stay— Of gilded guests and bygone day.
Still working halls in granite strong, Where statutes pass and flags belong. An eagle soared, then looked anew— The nation’s oldest still in view.
An ancient frame with mighty beams so wide, Seven Jackson lines have lived inside. New England’s cause for saving grace Found one of its first in this noble place.