Timeline of Events

Mason’s Fun Fact! Did you know that Londonderry, New Hampshire, claims to be home to the first potato planted in North America? See if you can find it on the Timeline!

Timelines help you organize historical events so you can see how they relate to one another. They are usually organized chronologically, which means in date order. The timeline below is separated into two parts: New Hampshire events and events happening elsewhere in America and sometimes the world. An event on one side of the timeline might influence an event on the other side in the same way that New Hampshire is influenced by events in America and the world. You can also see how the Granite State has made a big impact on America.

NEW HAMPSHIRE EVENTS

U.S. & WORLD EVENTS

Click the Green Button to expand every event on the timeline.

Click the Purple Buttons on the timeline to see all event details in that date range.

1875-1900

1879

Light bulb invented

A hand drawn cartoon shows three figures. A man on the right is behind a table and is using wires and various kinds of bulbs. He shines a beam of light to the left side of the cartoon. The two left figures are men-like with gas meters for heads. The light shines on them both. One has fallen on the ground and has an oil lamp in one hand and a sign that reads

1879

Light bulb invented

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he introduced a whole new way for people to see in the dark. Before then, people had to use candles, oil, or gas lamps, although neither of them provided very good light. The light bulb, however, was reliable and safe...

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1881

Camp Chocorua opens

A black and white drawing shows people in a woodland scene. There are large trees, showing only their trunks. There is a large cross made from birch tree branches in the center of the drawing. About ten boys are standing under the cross facing left; they have books and their mouths open. They are wearing uniforms with shorts and button down shirts with small ties. A man in a dark suit is standing next to a pulpit made of rock; he is standing solemnly. In the background to the left, seated boys can be seen.

1881

Camp Chocorua opens

In the summer of 1881, a New Hampshire man named Ernest Balch opened the first children’s summer camp in the United States. Located on Squam Lake, he called it Camp Chocorua. The camp was for boys who lived in big cities, like Boston and New York...

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1886

Statue of Liberty

A colorful painting shows a statue of a woman, clothed in robes. She is holding a book in her left hand at her waist. Her right hand is held aloft with a torch in it. She wears a crown of seven spikes. She stands on a square pedestal, which then sits on a slanted lawn supported by star-shaped brick walls. The surrounding scene shows how tall her form and base are, as the water in the background has three-masted ships which seem smaller than her head. There are clouds and blue sky in the background. Underneath the painting, words read

1886

Statue of Liberty

In honor of America’s 100th birthday in 1876, the French people donated a giant, copper statue of Lady Liberty. It took 10 years to design and build her, but when the French were finished, the Statue of Liberty stood over 300 feet high in New York Harbor...

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1899

First Old Home Week

A document has ornate printing. It is titled

1899

First Old Home Week

At the end of the 19th century, more people were moving out of New Hampshire than moving to it. People especially didn’t want to stay working on farms. Many of the state’s small towns saw a decline in their population...

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1900-1925

1903

Wright Brothers’ first flight

In a black and white photograph, a biplane is shown with two wings stacked on each other. A small engine is seen along with a small body of the plane behind the wings. The plane is on a beach and a man stands watching it, near a wooden bench.

1903

Wright Brothers’ first flight

The first airplane in the world was built by two brothers from Ohio, Wilbur and Orville Wright. The Wright Brothers made their first powered flight, which lasted for 59 seconds, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. Within just a few years of this flight, many others had built airplanes using a similar design, and flying eventually became a popular way to travel, offering people a way to go long distances in a short amount of time.

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1903

Forest fires burn the White Mountains

A black and white photograph of a wide landscape is seen. The landscape is hilly but not steep; there are trees and brush throughout. There are also several dirt paths across the hill. In a line across the photograph, a wildfire is raging. The smoke reaches far into the sky and is dark and voluminous. Flames are seen across the hill in a thick line.

1903

Forest fires burn the White Mountains

The White Mountains have long been known for their beautiful forests and abundant trees. In 1903, though, a series of forest fires swept through the mountains and burned over 12,000 acres and millions of trees. The loss of so much of the forest made many people in New Hampshire concerned for the forests’ survival...

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1909

Lewis Hine photographs child mill workers

In a black and white photograph, the outside of a brick building is shown. Wrought-iron gates with tall brick columns fence the building. People are exiting through the gate out to the dusty sidewalk. One women wears long dark skirts, a formal jacket, and a decorative hat. Behind her, four girls just leaving the gate wear shin length skirts, jackets, and hats or bows in their hair. One man wears a dark suit and a casual hat and is watching them all leave.

1909

Lewis Hine photographs child mill workers

Thousands of people worked in the factories and mills of New Hampshire, including many children. Kids could work in the factories starting at the age of 5, and often they worked instead of going to school. For many struggling families, the money that children earned helped them survive...

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1909

NAACP founded

A black and white photograph shows a man's head and shoulders. His hair is balding on top and he has a mustache curled at the edges. He wears a dark suit with a bow tie. His shoulders are slightly tilted away from the camera, but he looks directly at the viewer.

1909

NAACP founded

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed in 1909 to fight for the rights of African Americans. Its founder, a man named W.E.B. Dubois, argued that African Americans were not treated equally in America...

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1913

Moving assembly lines

In a black and white photograph, many people work in an assembly line. They are in some sort of factory, and on their line are circular metal pieces, about 18

1913

Moving assembly lines

Although factories had been in America since the early 1800s, inventor Henry Ford developed a better way to produce factory goods faster with a moving assembly line. Ford introduced this technique in his most popular invention, the Model T automobile...

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1914–1918

World War I

In a colorful poster, a drawing shows soldiers running through a field. They are wearing wide-brimmed hats, green uniforms with backpacks and belts equipped with gear. They hold rifles. At the top of the poster in red, it reads

1914–1918

World War I

World War I was such a big war with such terrible fighting that people thought it could never happen again. That’s why it is sometimes called “the war to end all wars.” Most of the fighting was in Europe between France, England, and Russia on one side, and Germany and Austria-Hungary on the other...

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1917

Yankee Division formed

1917

Yankee Division formed

In April 1917, the United States joined World War I, fighting on the side of England and France. America had a small army at the time, so the government encouraged volunteers to join up. Thousands of young men from New Hampshire signed up for the army...

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1918

White Mountain National Forest opens

A large black and white square map is shown. It is dense with information, and includes markings for rivers, mountains, lakes, as well as town, county, and landmark notations. On the right is a black dotted border, with New Hampshire labeled to the left and Maine to the right. It is titled

1918

White Mountain National Forest opens

The White Mountains are among the most important of New Hampshire’s natural resources. One of the state’s biggest exports has been the timber found in the mountains. By the early 1900s, so many trees had been cut down that people began to worry that the White Mountains would no longer have such beautiful forests...

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1918

Potato drive campaign

A black and white poster has a border and printing of various sizes. The border has four small corner pictures encouraging public support for food conservation efforts. The text reads in part

1918

Potato drive campaign

During World War I, Granite State farmers grew food for the soldiers serving in Europe. The U.S. government told the farmers what crops to plant and how much to plant to cover the needs of the army. But in the spring of 1918, New Hampshire farmers discovered that they had grown too many potatoes...

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1920

19th Amendment passes

A black and white photograph shows a broad city street filled with people and no cars, seen from above. People generally wear long skirts or coats and hats. The buildings are decorated with half-circle flags draped from windows. Words in cursive in the lower right hand corner read

1920

19th Amendment passes

Before 1920, women could not vote in national elections in the United States. Women had been fighting for the right to vote since the mid-1800s. They finally got the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment. An amendment is a change to the Constitution.

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1920

Radio becomes popular

A black and white photograph shows a man in a long coat and hat standing outside a store on a street. Next to him is a table with a large black box on it. On the box are two circles with markings. He is holding something connected with a wire to the black box up to his ear, and touching one of the circles with the other hand. He is looking down at the box..

1920

Radio becomes popular

In November 1920, radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, went on the air to announce the results of the presidential election. Over the next several weeks, it began broadcasting all sorts of programs, including sports, news, and music...

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1923

Robert Frost publishes New Hampshire poems

An open book is shown with an illustration and title page. The illustration on the left shows a woodcut of a rural mountain scene. A country lane with a large tree next to it leads to a small house and pond. There are mountains and hills in the background, and clouds in the sky. The title page on the right reads

1923

Robert Frost publishes New Hampshire poems

One of the most famous writers to live in New Hampshire was a poet named Robert Frost. He had two farms in the Granite State: one in Derry and one in Franconia. In 1923, Frost published a book of poems that were all about his home state...

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1925-1950

1929

Stock market crash

Part of a large stately building with columns and multiple entrances is seen in a black and white photograph. A large crowd of people have gathered on the street, and most wear wide brimmed hats, suits, and long jackets. Three 1930s cars are among the crowd.

1929

Stock market crash

On October 24, 1929, the stock market crashed. The stock market is a place where many Americans invest their money. When the market crashed in 1929, millions of Americans lost all their savings. The day was such a disaster for so many people that Americans began calling it Black Tuesday...

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1929

Chinook saves the day

A black and white photograph shows four men and a dog outside. The four men are talking together, and wearing winter outdoors clothes. One man has a hat with a broad rim all around. The dog is sitting looking at the men. There is a barn and lean-to in the background as well as two toboggins. One toboggin is lying in front of the men and one man has his foot on it; the other toboggin is standing up against the lean-to behind them.

1929

Chinook saves the day

New Hampshire has an official state dog—the chinook. All chinooks are descended from one dog, who was named, unsurprisingly, Chinook. Chinook was a sled dog, who was trained to survive in extreme weather conditions...

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1929–1939

Great Depression

In a black and white photograph, a woman stares off into the distance, looking worried or tired. Her upper torso, shoulders, and head are seen, and her hand is holding her chin. Her hair is loosely pulled back, and she wears a blouse with cardigan. A small child is on either side of her with mussed hair and worn clothing. They have their heads on her shoulders and are facing away from the camera.

1929–1939

Great Depression

The Great Depression was a 10-year period in American history when the American economy did very poorly. It started with the stock market crash of 1929. Soon after the crash, many businesses closed. Millions of people lost their jobs. Lots of people struggled to find enough food to eat...

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1931

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen formed

A long horizontal light-orange rectangle shows black printing and a woodcut scene of a village. The printing reads

1931

League of New Hampshire Craftsmen formed

Many artists have lived in New Hampshire over the years. Some of them are painters who were inspired by the state’s beauty, especially the White Mountains. Others created pottery or glassware. Still others made jewelry or furniture...

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1934

Highest wind speed recorded

A page shows a black and white drawing of a standing man with his back to the viewer, holding onto a pole. The pole is secured to the base with lines, and has a small rectagular box on top. The man wears winter clothing, and is standing on a narrow tower. The text reads

1934

Highest wind speed recorded

As the highest peak in the Northeast, Mount Washington sees all sorts of crazy weather. Even on days when it’s sunny in the rest of New Hampshire, it can be cold and windy on top of Mount Washington. To monitor weather conditions on the mountain, scientists built the Mount Washington Observatory where they record weather conditions like temperature, barometric pressure, and wind speed...

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1935

Yankee Magazine founded

The cover of a magazine is white with blue printing and a drawing. The large title at the top says

1935

Yankee Magazine founded

One of the most popular publications about life in New England is Yankee Magazine, which was first published in Dublin, New Hampshire, in 1935. “Yankee” is a term used to describe someone from New England, particularly northern New England...

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1936

Amoskeag mills close

A black and white photograph shows many mill buildings from a high perspective. In the foreground, they run horizontally and vertically, and in the background there is one long factory building. Behind and on the sides of the buildings, the surrounding town can be seen. The caption reads

1936

Amoskeag mills close

Although New Hampshire had a long history of having mills and factories, the state’s economy began to change in the early 20th century. Most of the factories moved to the southern part of America, where people would work for less money...

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1937

First chair ski lift

A black and white photograph shows a small mountain in the winter. Up the mountain runs a wide, white trail as well as supporting posts and wires for an old chair lift. In the foreground, people in winter clothes line up along a fence. The viewer can see one person getting ready to board the next chair that is coming.

1937

First chair ski lift

In the 1920s and 1930s, downhill skiing became a popular new sport in America, particularly in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. But if it was fun to ski down a mountain, it was hard work to climb up the mountain in the first place...

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1938

Hurricane of 1938

In a black and white photograph, a suburban house with large lawn is seen. In front of the house, a large tree has uprooted and fallen towards the house, hitting it in some places. A small child in shorts and jacket stands next to the roots of the tree, looking at the viewer.

1938

Hurricane of 1938

On a September day in 1938, New England got hit with the strongest hurricane in its history. It was a Category 5 hurricane, which is the worst kind of hurricane. The hurricane destroyed thousands of homes and buildings and caused widespread flooding...

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1939–1945

World War II

A colorful poster shows soldiers running up and over a mound of earth. They have helmets, uniforms, backpacks, and rifles with bayonets. Two are on the top of the mound, and more soldiers are running behind them along with a tank. In the distance behind them, there is a beach with more soldiers and boats in the water. Overhead, there are clouds and small airplanes flying in the same direction as the soldiers are running. In the clouds above it reads

1939–1945

World War II

World War II was the biggest war the world has ever seen—even bigger than World War I! It involved over 30 countries, and there was fighting all over the globe on almost every continent. The fighting was mainly between Germany, Italy, and Japan on one side, against England, France, Russia, and America on the other side...

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1947

Jackie Robinson plays major league baseball

A red cover of a magazine is seen. A man's head and shoulders encompass most of the cover; he is wearing a blue cap with a

1947

Jackie Robinson plays major league baseball

Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play major league baseball. Before that, African Americans had to play in their own separate leagues. Robinson played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he played second base. He was a great all-around player, although he was known for being able to steal bases...

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1950-1975

1952

First presidential primary

In a photograph of a street scene a man in an overcoat and hat stands near an open doorway on a sidewalk, holding a microphone and speaking to a crowd of people gathered around him. People wear raincoats, women are wearing hats or scarves over their heads, and men are wearing hats. A car parked at the curb has loudspeakers on its roof and a sign reading

1952

First presidential primary

New Hampshire is now famous for holding the first-in-the-nation presidential primary, which means the people of New Hampshire get to pick before people in other states who should run for president. A presidential primary is not an election to see who becomes president—it’s an election to see who will be nominated to run for president by one of the major political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans...

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1953

Chippa Granite is created

A colorful rectanglar poster, oriented horizontally, shows a cartoon of a boy lying on his stomach in the grass. He is wearing overalls, a striped short-sleeve shirt, and no socks or shoes. He is smiling, and appears to be talking to three chicks who are walking on the grass next to a mother hen. Around the boy in the grass are various food products, like a basket of potatoes, tomatoes, wheat, apples, berries, and corn. The words above the boy read

1953

Chippa Granite is created

In the 1950s, the state government wanted people to use more products made or grown in New Hampshire. The government asked artist Alice Cosgrove to design a character who could be used for this type of promotion. Cosgrove created Chippa Granite, a fresh-faced boy who appeared on all sorts of posters and flyers promoting everything to do with New Hampshire, from skiing to apples.

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1954

Birth of rock n’ roll

A black and white photograph shows a large room with a pillar and some decorations. Teenangers dance in the room in pairs. Boys wears jackets and ties and girls wears skirts or dresses.

1954

Birth of rock n’ roll

In the 1950s, a new kind of music swept through America known as rock and roll. Rock and roll music had simple melodies, usually played on guitars, and a loud beat with lots of drums. It was particularly popular with American teenagers as dance music...

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1955

Rosa Parks arrested

In a black and white photograph, a woman looks at the camera with a small smile. She has glasses, a striped blouse with a vest, and her hair pulled back. In the background, there is a car, and a man with a suit and tie, who is talking with his arms crossed.

1955

Rosa Parks arrested

Even though slavery had ended at the end of the Civil War, many African Americans still were not treated equally with other Americans. For example, for many years African-Americans went to different schools than other Americans, had to use different drinking fountains, and were only allowed to sit in some sections of movie theaters...

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1959

Hawaii becomes the 50th state

A closeup of a white stamp with red print shows a man with a spear, helmet, and cape on the left. He holds up a garland to the right. On the right is a large, five-pointed star. In the middle are islands, arranged in an arc from bottom right to upper left. They are labeled, the biggest one named

1959

Hawaii becomes the 50th state

How many states are there in America? 50! The 50th state, Hawaii, became a state on August 21, 1959. Hawaii was known for being a tropical paradise. The weather was always warm, and there were beautiful beaches. It was also known for growing sugar cane and pineapples...

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1963

Martin Luther King Jr. speech

A black and white photograph shows a man wearing a suit speaking into several microphones. In front of him is an officer in uniform with large brimmed hat. There are other people listening, and the backdrop is a large column.

1963

Martin Luther King Jr. speech

One of the most important leaders of the civil rights movement was a man named Martin Luther King Jr., who was a minister from Georgia. He led many protests for more equality for African Americans. He believed that all protests should be peaceful and that eventually Americans would come to agree with him that whether people were black or white they should be treated the same...

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1964

Beatles come to America

Five men in suits and jackets stand in a line facing the viewer in a black and white photograph. In front of the two rightmost men are many microphones on stands. All the men are looking off to the left, and are standing in a large room with flags hanging from the ceiling.

1964

Beatles come to America

Although rock and roll had been popular in America since the 1950s, a new kind of rock and roll music became popular in the early 1960s when a British rock band called the Beatles came to America. The Beatles were four handsome, young men who played an upbeat, fun form of rock and roll that made people want to sing along...

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1969

Apollo 11 lands on the moon

In a color photograph, an astronaut with a white spacesuit and large backpack descends a ladder. He is leaving a small spaceship and stepping down to walk on the moon.

1969

Apollo 11 lands on the moon

In 1960, President John F. Kennedy promised the American people that the United States would be able to send a man to the moon within 10 years. Nine years later, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to stand on the surface of the moon on July 20, 1969...

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1970

First Earth Day

1970

First Earth Day

By the middle of the 20th century, some people began to realize that the earth was a precious resource that needed to be cared for and preserved, not just used up. To remind everyone to care for the planet, some Americans started celebrating Earth Day in 1970 to draw attention to the environment and the need to protect it.

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1975-2000

1980

Refugee resettlement communities

Two people stand in a parking lot in a color photograph. A woman wears a black jacket and smiles, and a smiling man wears a cap, and casual pants and shirt. He holds two signs that are the same stacked on each other on a wooden pole, and she holds one of the same sign. The signs read “SAFIYA/ WAZIR/ STATE REP/ SEPT 11.”

1980

Refugee resettlement communities

Thousands of people fled from war-torn countries in the 1970s and 1980s. The American government made arrangements with several cities around the country to take in these refugees and help them get settled in new communities...

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1990

Internet invented

A color photograph of a black computer monitor is seen. It sits on a blue desk with part of a keyboard, covered by a piece of paper with typing, visible below. On the keyboard reads

1990

Internet invented

Although computers had been around since the 1940s, they could not communicate with one another until 1990. That’s the year that a British man named Tim Berners-Lee invented the internet, which is also called the world wide web. The internet is a way for computers to “talk” to one another...

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