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Learn It! New Hampshire Geography

New Hampshire Geography

New Hampshire is the fifth smallest state in the country, covering just 9,351 square miles. But our geography has lots of different physical features, from the Atlantic Ocean to Mount Washington to the Connecticut River Valley. Geographical features are all around us, and they help us figure out where we are in the state. They also make New Hampshire different from any other state. There are 1.3 million people who live in New Hampshire, and most of them are in the southern part of the state. New Hampshire’s state capital is the city of Concord, which is near the state’s geographical center.

As you learn more about New Hampshire geography, think about the following questions:

What physical and human characteristics define New Hampshire?
How did New Hampshire’s boundaries and regions come to be the way they are today?
How has the way people explored and represented New Hampshire changed over time?
How does where you live impact how you live?

View Timeline

NEW HAMPSHIRE EVENTS

U.S. & WORLD EVENTS

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2.6 Million Years Ago

Circa 2.6 million years BCE

Ice Age in New Hampshire

A color photograph shows a wide open blue sky and ice and snow far into the distance. Some areas of snow and ice are flat and some have ice jutting up and making small hills.

Circa 2.6 million years BCE

Ice Age in New Hampshire

Millions of years ago, most of North America, and all of New Hampshire, was covered in ice. These large sheets of ice and snow covered the land for a very long time. This period was known as the Ice Age. There was very little plant or animal life that survived it.

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14,000-1,000 BCE

Circa 14,000–9,000 BCE

Glaciers melt in New Hampshire

On a snow-covered steep hill a large, irregularly-shaped boulder sits perched in this photograph.

Circa 14,000–9,000 BCE

Glaciers melt in New Hampshire

As the ice melted, it left its mark upon the land. Deep holes became lakes. Valleys where the ice had been became rivers. As the ice receded and the temperature warmed up, plant and animal life began to flourish.

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Circa 10,000-8,000 BCE

Abenaki settle in New Hampshire

A model of a birchbark canoe has brown birchbark on a wooden frame. There is one thwart in the center. Intricate double-curve designs are on the outside of the canoe. Two wooden paddles lie beside the canoe, one with a rounded blade and one with a pointed blade.

Circa 10,000-8,000 BCE

Abenaki settle in New Hampshire

The earliest known settlers in New Hampshire were Native Americans known as the Abenaki. The Abenaki, like most Native Americans in North America, originally came from Asia. Thousands of years ago, they crossed a land bridge linking what is now Russia to the Asian continent...

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Circa 1,000 BCE

Abenaki develop agriculture

A colorful cartoon shows squash, corn, and beans planted together. The corn grows the tallest, and the bean plant climbs up, circling the corn stalk. The squash plant, with big leaves and flowers, grows along the ground under the two other plants.

Circa 1,000 BCE

Abenaki develop agriculture

The Abenaki were originally hunters and gatherers. They got their food by hunting and fishing and by gathering nuts and berries that grew in the forests. Then around 3,000 years ago, they began to grow crops to provide more food. Native tribes grew three kinds of crops—squash, corn, and beans...

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1400-1700

1492

Christopher Columbus reaches North America

Formal painting shows the torso and head of a man with a Middle Ages-style dark clothing and a formal hat. He has chin-length curly brown hair, is slightly frowning, and has one hand on his chest.

1492

Christopher Columbus reaches North America

Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer. He “discovered” America--even though there were Native American people already living here. After Columbus’s voyage to what became called the “New World,” many Europeans were interested in both North America and South America...

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1607

Jamestown established

A black and white drawing of a river scene shows a canoe with two people on the river, and trees and grass lining the bank. There is a house in the distance hidden by trees, and a small stone tower closer. Text reads

1607

Jamestown established

The first English settlement in America was in Virginia in 1607. The colonists named their settlement Jamestown after the English king, James I. Life was very hard for these settlers because they had come looking for gold and did not bring enough food to eat...

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1614

John Smith lands at Isles of Shoals

A color drawing of a man shows his head and shoulders. He wears a decorative shirt with gold-threaded sleeves. He has a collar of armor, bordered with gold. His hair is brown and curly, as are his large beard and large, pointed mustache. Behind him on the left is a red curtain. On the right behind him, two figures with feather headdresses and leather-looking clothes are holding a person on her knees and threatening her. Under the person, who wears white, is the word

1614

John Smith lands at Isles of Shoals

In the early 1600s, a few European explorers came to New England. Among them was Captain John Smith, who was famous for helping to found the Jamestown colony in Virginia. Smith landed on a small group of islands off the coast of New Hampshire in 1614...

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1616–1619

Disease strikes the Abenaki

An illustration shows a Native American camp under some trees. On the right, there is a fire with three large pots suspended over the flames. A person is tending it while another person pours something into a large barrel. A few people sit and stand in and outside of a wigwam next to the fire. The left side of the painting shows tress with few leaves and people working with them. The people are chopping, gathering, and kneeling near the trees.

1616–1619

Disease strikes the Abenaki

The Europeans who visited New England accidently brought with them diseases like small pox and chicken pox. Unfortunately, thousands of the Abenaki caught these diseases and became sick. Since the Abenaki were not used to European diseases, their bodies had no resistance to the infections...

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1620

Pilgrims land at Plymouth

A drawing shows two groups of men in color, and, in the background, a two-masted ship in the water outlined in black and white. There are three men in the righthand ground, and they are dressed as traditional Native Americans. They have feather headdresses, clothing of animal skins covering parts of their bodies, and long horns. The three men on the left are dressed as traditional pilgrims. They have short, blousy pants, coats and cloaks, and black hats with wide brims all around. The man in front carries a rifle. The two men in front of each group are shaking hands. Under the picture, the words

1620

Pilgrims land at Plymouth

A second group of English colonists, called the Pilgrims, landed in Massachusetts in 1620. The Pilgrims came to America because they wanted to practice their religion freely. They built a settlement that they named Plymouth Plantation...

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1623

First English settlement in New Hampshire

A historic map is shown of islands, shoreline, and bays. The water is light yellow and the land is darker with grass and rivers indicated. A compass is in the middle of the map in the water. A few islands, bays, and settlements are marked on the map. On the bottom fifth of the map is a drawing of a settlement. It is on the coast and has houses, trees, and ships.

1623

First English settlement in New Hampshire

The first permanent European settlement in New Hampshire was at Odiorne Point in Rye. A group of English settlers led by a man named David Thomson came to the area mainly to fish. They built stone houses because they planned to stay year-round, even through the winter...

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1629

John Mason founds New Hampshire

In a black and white cartoon, two figures are seen bending over a desk, looking at a piece of paper. They are dressed in formal clothing from the 1600s, and one of them wears a sword. The table and mantle behind them are ornate. Over the tablecloth, a corner of the paper hangs and the viewer can see it says

1629

John Mason founds New Hampshire

Although other Englishmen came to New Hampshire in the early 1600s, the founder of New Hampshire was a man named Captain John Mason. He named this land after his home county in England, Hampshire. Mason planned to bring his wife and newborn baby with him when he and a group of settlers came to the New World in 1635...

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1642

Darby Field ascends Mount Washington

A black and white photograph shows steep rocks rising to the left in the foreground. In the distance, a large mountain is seen, rising through clouds. The peak is rocky and bare.

1642

Darby Field ascends Mount Washington

At more than 6,000 feet, Mount Washington is the tallest mountain in New England. The first person to climb it was an Englishman named Darby Field. The Abenaki had warned Field that it was dangerous to go to the top of Mount Washington because of “evil spirits,” but the real danger was the terrible weather conditions so high up...

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1660

Passaconaway’s farewell

A drawing of a man in Native American dress is shown. He holds a bow and has arrows in a quiver on his back. He wears animal skins and a woven skirt, and has a curved smooth head covering. His sandals are hand made and his lower legs are bare. The caption reads

1660

Passaconaway’s farewell

For most of the 1600s, the leader of the Abenaki in southern New Hampshire was a man named Passaconaway. He was the sachem, or chief, of the Pennacook tribe, which included as many as 12,000 people...

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1700-1775

1719

Scots-Irish come to New Hampshire

A black and white sketch shows an outdoor scene with a large tree with a thick trunk on the left. Under it a man stands with his arms outstretched to the sky. Facing him are a crowd of people, some sitting in front and some standing. The women wear long dresses and the men suits; most people wear hats. In the distance, there are clouds and many trees.

1719

Scots-Irish come to New Hampshire

In the 1600s, European settlers to New Hampshire were from England. In 1719, a new group of settlers came here. They were known as the Scots-Irish. A group of 16 families founded a settlement in Nutfield, which later became the town of Londonderry...

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1741

Benning Wentworth appointed first colonial governor

A colorful painting shows a white-haired man in formal dress posed standing with a cane. He is not smiling and looks directly at the viewer. He is wearing a long blue coat bordered with gold, a white shirt with ruffled cuffs, and knee-length blue pants. He has white stockings and black shoes with brass buckles. He stands on a black and tan checked floor in front of a column and red curtain. In the background are tall trees, clouds, and a village far away.

1741

Benning Wentworth appointed first colonial governor

When New Hampshire was first founded, it shared a government with Massachusetts. They both had the same governor, and at one point, there was even talk about making all of New Hampshire a county in Massachusetts! Most people living in New Hampshire did not want to be part of Massachusetts, and they asked King George II of England to keep them separate and give them their own governor...

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1765

Stamp Act protests

An engraving shows a town square bordered with two story colonial houses. In the center of the square is a crowd of people gathered, facing inwards, most with their arms up. Some hold hats in their upstretched hands. In the center of the crowd is a likeness of a person up on a stick above people's heads. There are two circular items up in the air near the figure. One person in front is bending down, perhaps to pick something up. About five figures to the left and in the background are carrying a large box on their shoulders. Above the engraving are the words

1765

Stamp Act protests

By the 1760s, many people in New Hampshire—and America—were getting tired of being British colonies and having to pay taxes to the British government. In 1765, the British imposed a new tax called the Stamp Act, which put a tax on books, newspapers, documents, playing cards, and anything made of paper...

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1772

Pine Tree Riot

Three broad black lines come together at a point as if to form a tee-pee. There are smaller, black lines half the length of the first lines to the direct right of each line, parallel to each one.

1772

Pine Tree Riot

One of the British laws that the people of New Hampshire did not like involved pine trees! The British government declared that all the big pine trees in New Hampshire belonged to the king, who used them as ships’ masts for the British navy...

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1774

Attack on Fort William and Mary

A black and white drawing shows a view of a landscape. A river enters from the right side, and land surrounds it in a bay. There is a large sailboat on the river. In the center is a series of buildings with some towers connected by walls. There is a large flag hanging over the right side of the walls. A village is further away on the left side. Two figures stand on rocks in the foreground. At the bottom is script writing identifying various features in the drawing.

1774

Attack on Fort William and Mary

In December 1774, an American patriot named Paul Revere rode to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to warn his friends that the British army was going to send more soldiers and supplies to Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth Harbor...

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1775-1800

1775–1783

American Revolution

A drawing shows a snake cut into eight parts. Each part is labeled, left to right, as

1775–1783

American Revolution

By the 1760s, most of the colonies in North America belonged to England (which was also known as Britain or Great Britain). The British had not paid much attention to America over the years, and the Americans were used to making their own decisions and laws...

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1775

Bunker Hill

Soldiers wearing late-1700s uniforms with red coats and blue pants run up a hill in a painting. They hold muskets with bayonets. Some are leading the charge, some are drumming, and some hold British flags. On the left side, there are soldiers struck down. One soldier appears to be falling. In the distance, smoke from a battle rises and large ships are visible.

1775

Bunker Hill

The Battle of Bunker Hill was the first major battle of the American Revolution. The British army, which was very well trained, attacked American troops in the hills surrounding Boston. The American troops did not have much experience as soldiers, but they put up a good fight against the British...

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1776

New Hampshire declares independence

A document is seen with many lines of printed text. There are no pictures, and the document is slightly torn on some edges. In larger print at the top, the title reads

1776

New Hampshire declares independence

On January 4, 1776, New Hampshire became the first British colony to declare its independence from Great Britain. Since New Hampshire was now an independent state, its leaders wrote a new constitution for it, which laid out how the government would function. New Hampshire, therefore, formed the first state government in America...

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1776

Declaration of Independence

A long rectangle painting shows many figures of men dressed in formal suits from the 1700s. They are standing on some steps in groups, talking together and looking at one man. That man has a long white object in his hand. The background is a building with large columns on the left, trees, and a sky filled in with clouds. Flags are massed on the extreme right.

1776

Declaration of Independence

During the American Revolution, the Americans created a congress to pass laws for the colonies and to raise taxes to support the war effort. On July 4, 1776, this congress approved a document called the Declaration of Independence...

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1777

Battle of Bennington

A detailed engraving shows a scene in rural country. In the center are two men with swords, one riding a horse and one holding it. Both are pointing to the right and looking to the left. To their left are a crowd of men, some in uniforms and some in farmer-like clothing, but all with weapons. They look towards the men in the middle and raise their swords. On the right of the men in the middle are trees and a hill far away. On top of the hill is a flat building with a flag on it and some small figures. In the foreground are several men climbing over a fence pointing to the hill. They are also armed, and seem to be joining the crowd of men on the left.

1777

Battle of Bennington

In the summer of 1777, the British army launched a massive campaign through the Hudson River Valley in New York and Vermont to divide the New England colonies from the rest of America. Fighting between the British and Americans went on all summer, but in the middle of August, New Hampshire’s General John Stark arrived in southern Vermont with a large group of New Hampshire soldiers...

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1779

Freedom Petition

A document is seen with 12 lines of elaborate script. After the lines, starting about two-thirds of the way down the document, are two lists of names, numbering 20 names total.

1779

Freedom Petition

New Hampshire used to have enslaved people. The first enslaved people in America were kidnapped in Africa and brought to the New World where they were sold for their labor. They had to work for their masters without being paid, and they weren't allowed to make their own decisions about their lives. Their children were also enslaved, and their grandchildren and so on. Most enslaved people in America lived in the South, but even colonies in the North, like New Hampshire and Massachusetts, had enslaved people.

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1788

New Hampshire ratifies the U.S. Constitution

An engraving shows a symbolic drawing. There are nine pillars, each about a third of the height of the drawing, lined up next to each other. They each have letters on them. From left to right, they read

1788

New Hampshire ratifies the U.S. Constitution

When the 13 American colonies declared themselves independent from Britain, they had to form a government for their new country. They had to decide how political power was going to be shared between the states and the federal government and develop a process for passing laws that would govern the new country...

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1789

U.S. Constitution

A crowd of men sit and stand in a formal room with a chandelier and fancy window treatments. They are dressed in formal suits from the 1700s. They face a dais with a desk, where one man stands in front of a chair. Another man appears to be writing on something on the desk. Flags decorate the wall behind the standing man.

1789

U.S. Constitution

After the Americans won the American Revolution, they had to create a new form of government for their new country. It took them several years to figure out which form of government would work best for them. They knew the government would be a democracy, meaning the people would get to vote about how they would be governed...

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1796

Ona Judge flees slavery

A close up rectangle of an old newspaper is shown. The title is

1796

Ona Judge flees slavery

In 1796, an enslaved woman named Ona Judge ran away from her master in the South and came to New Hampshire. Her master was George Washington, the president of the United States. Washington owned many slaves at his plantation in Virginia, and he wasn’t willing to just let Ona go...

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1796

Roads across the state

A close up of a black and white hand-drawn map shows a dotted line running horizontally through the page. Below the line are a few ponds as well as acres marked and other items of interest. Directly above the line sit seven small houses and a church. There are other rivers and ponds marked above the line. All items are labeled in cursive script. The line is labeled

1796

Roads across the state

There were no big roads in New Hampshire during the 1700s like the highways we have today. Instead, all the roads in the state were local, linking one village to another. Each town was responsible for building and repairing their own roads, and sometimes the towns didn’t do a great job of it. In the late 1700s, some investors got together and decided to build a nice, big road that would run across the middle of the state, from Portsmouth to Concord...

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1800-1825

1803

First textile mill in New Hampshire

A diagram of a spinning machine is seen in six parts. It is titled

1803

First textile mill in New Hampshire

The first cotton mill in New Hampshire was built in New Ipswich in 1803. It was a small mill, but it used giant machines, known as looms, to weave cloth, which would normally take a long time to weave by hand. The looms were powered by water...

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1803

Louisiana Purchase

A historic map is shown of the United States and parts of Mexico and Canada. Bodies of water are blue and labeled, and rivers are shown as black lines. Major rivers are labeled. There are two layers of data. First, modern-day U.S. states are outlined in dotted black lines. Second, the center third of the United States is colored red and labeled

1803

Louisiana Purchase

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson bought a huge area of land from the French for $15 million. It doubled the size of America! The Louisiana Purchase included most of the land in what is now the middle of the country and extended all the way to the Pacific Ocean...

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1805

Old Man of the Mountain “discovered”

1805

Old Man of the Mountain “discovered”

It wasn’t until the early 1800s that people started exploring the White Mountains, which were beautiful but rugged. Men building a road through Franconia Notch in 1805 saw a group of rocks that looked just like a giant head. They called the rock formation the Old Man of the Mountain, and soon tourists came from all over to see the Old Man...

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1809

Live free or die

A black and white printing of a piece of writing is bordered by small swirling decorations. The title reads

1809

Live free or die

New Hampshire’s most famous Revolutionary War soldier, General John Stark, used the term “Live free or die” in 1809. He was writing a letter to some fellow veterans who had organized a dinner to celebrate the anniversary of Stark’s great victory in 1777, the Battle of Bennington...

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1815

Textile mills in Lowell

A black and white photograph shows a wide, calm river in its center. On the right, the riverbank is lined with trees. On the left, long industrial buildings about five stories tall run the length of the river. There are many big windows on the buildings and they are flat on top. Smoke stacks are seen in the distance.

1815

Textile mills in Lowell

The first factories in America opened in the early 1800s when inventors found a way to use water power to make machines work. Machines could work much faster than people, even though people still needed to tend the machines...

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1815

Merrimack River made navigable

In a drawing of rural woodlands on a river, a boat propelled with setting poles and sail approaches a building. The building is set above the river so that there is a landing dock on the river under it. There are three figures on the boat and several others throughout the scene, some on a small road and some in a field. The scene shows large trees and bushes next to the river, and smaller ones throughout the landscape up a hill. There is also a small road with a few buildings on it leading to the landing building.

1815

Merrimack River made navigable

The Merrimack River is the largest river in New Hampshire. At a time when it was still difficult and slow to travel on roads, water travel was the fastest way to move goods and people from one place to another. People used rivers almost like they use highways today...

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1816

Carrigain Map completed

In this historic map of New Hampshire, the seven counties of New Hampshire are different colors and labeled. On the state's borders,

1816

Carrigain Map completed

Maps have always been very important in settling new land and in protecting people’s claims to land they believe they own. There were a few early maps of parts of New Hampshire, but by the early 1800s, people realized they needed a map of the whole state...

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1816–1819

State House built

An engraving shows a large, stately building with rows of windows, four chimneys rising from the corners, and a tower with cupola. It sits on a flat landscape, bordered with a fence and trees. A large deciduous tree borders the left side of the engraving. The title reads

1816–1819

State House built

For the first few decades New Hampshire was a state, it didn’t have a state capital. Instead, the state government moved between several towns, including Portsmouth, Exeter, Dover, and Hopkinton. Finally, around 1810, the state government decided to settle in Concord, which was in the center of the state geographically and had a good road system, making it easy for people to travel to and from the new capital...

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1825-1850

1825

The Granite State

A square black and white image that is arched on top and bordered in teal on the top and bottom. The image shows the side of a hill, and the top and bottom of the image are wooded. In the middle is a wide swath of light colored rock. There are some large boulders, some slabs, and some cliff-like drops.

1825

The Granite State

In June 1825, the state government held a big dinner on the State House lawn in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was a Frenchman who became an American hero during the American Revolution 50 years earlier. He returned to America in 1825 and took a grand tour of all the states to celebrate America’s 50th birthday...

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1825

Erie Canal opens

A black and white photograph shows a wide, calm water canal curving through a developed town. On the right side, the water is bordered by sand and then buildings. On the left side, the water rises directly up to buildings. There is a boat tied up to one building.

1825

Erie Canal opens

It took a long time to get places back in the early 1800s, before there were trains, cars, or airplanes. The fastest way to travel was by water on a boat, but the problem was that many rivers and lakes did not link up with each other. To connect them, people built canals so the boats could travel by water farther...

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1826

Willey slide tragedy

A drawing of a hillside shows a dark hill with four rock slides. Each rockslide looks like a river at the top of the hill, but resolves into individual rocks as it descends. The rightmost rockslide encircles a small house at the bottom of the hill. Along the bottom of the drawing, nine people are seen running in a line away from the house. Although they are small figures, based on their sizes and dress, they are a mix of men, women, and children. The four rockslides end all along their path. There are three lines of small writing below the drawing which describe the drawing.

1826

Willey slide tragedy

In the 1820s, not many people lived in the White Mountains. One family, the Willeys, built a homestead near Crawford Notch. The family included a mother, father, five children, and two hired hands. In August 1826, a huge storm moved through the area and set off a massive landslide in the little valley where the Willeys lived...

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1827

First railroad in America

A black and white photograph shows a steam locomotive running on a track. There are several more tracks next to it as well as steel beams overhead. Buildings are in the background. People can be seen getting into and out of the passenger cars attached to the steam locomotive.

1827

First railroad in America

Trains were invented in the early 1800s in England. Powered by steam engines, they offered a way to move people and goods long distances in a much shorter time than traveling by horse and wagons on roads or by boats on water...

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1827

First Concord coach built

1827

First Concord coach built

A Concord coach is a type of stagecoach that made travel easier and more comfortable for people in the 19th century. The Abbot-Downing Company of Concord became famous for making the best and most luxurious stagecoaches of the century...

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1831

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company founded

A long rectangular drawing shows a town from a distance. In the foreground, fields bordered by fencing and a few houses line a river. Then in the middle of the drawing, long industrial buildings dominate the town along the river. There are more than nine buildings lining the river across the drawing. Behind the industrial buildings, here and there, other aspects of the town peek through. The sky is shown in the top half of the drawing.

1831

Amoskeag Manufacturing Company founded

With all of the rivers in New Hampshire, the state soon became a center for textile mills, which needed water power from the rivers to work the machinery, like looms, to weave cloth and fabric. Manchester was particularly well-placed for textile mills, as the Merrimack River ran strong in that area, and its water generated a lot of power...

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1838

First railroad in New Hampshire

A historic map of southeastern New England is shown. Cape Cod and the Atlantic seashore are prominent. New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island's borders are noted. Large rivers and ocean features are labeled. The word Boston is written in bold script and circled in the appropriate place. Extending out from Boston are seven lines like spokes of a wheel. Each line has many depots labeled along it. The lines extend as far north as Concord, NH, and Portland, ME; as far west as to travel off the map; and as far south as New Bedford, MA. The title of the map lies in the Atlantic Ocean, and reads

1838

First railroad in New Hampshire

The first railroad tracks were laid in New Hampshire in 1838. The tracks ran from Nashua south for 5 miles before crossing the Massachusetts border and continuing on to Boston. Within less than 10 years, the Boston, Concord, and Montreal Railroad had built railroads throughout the southern part of the state...

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1844

First telegraph communication

In this black and white photograph, a man stands in a room with a window. He wears a uniform with a cap decorated with gold braid. He stands at a desk, cutting paper from a machine on the desk. The machine has rollers and, on the side, a black square at waist height tilted up. The square is roughly a foot on all sides, and has two circles of buttons, one inside another.

1844

First telegraph communication

In the 1840s, a man named Samuel Morse invented a new way for people to communicate with one another. It was called the telegraph, and it used wires to transmit signals between telegraph stations. The signals were a series of long and short sounds that represented different letters of the alphabet...

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1845

Senator Hale speaks out against slavery

An advertisement with black print on white background announces speech by John P. Hale, using capital letters and bold printing for emphasis on occasion. Details include

1845

Senator Hale speaks out against slavery

By the middle of the 19th century, more and more people in the North had decided that slavery was a bad thing, but not very many politicians had spoken against slavery. In 1845, John Parker Hale, who was a senator from New Hampshire, publicly declared that slavery was a terrible thing and should be stopped, even in the South where slavery was very popular...

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1845–1851

Irish potato famine

A black and white sketch drawing shows a woman in rags standing with long, messy hair. She has her arms around two small children, one on each side of her. The children are also dressed in rags. All three figures show hopelessness on their faces.

1845–1851

Irish potato famine

Millions of people who lived in Ireland in the 1800s depended on potatoes more than any other crop to survive. When a disease attacked the potato crop in Ireland in the 1840s and killed almost all of the potatoes, the people of Ireland began to starve...

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1848

Seneca Falls Convention

An old black and white photograph shows a woman's head in a bonnet. She is looking to the left and her dark hair comes out from the side of the bonnet next to her face.

1848

Seneca Falls Convention

Women did not always have the same rights as men like they do today. For a long time, they couldn’t even vote. In the middle of the 19th century, many women began to argue that they deserved the same rights as men, but only some men agreed with them...

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1849

California gold rush

A black and white drawing is divided into four equal rectangles. The left upper section shows two men next to a river lined with trees. One is standing and one is kneeling at the water. The kneeling man is putting a broad, flat pan into the water. The upper right section shows a hillside with a hole in it and two men. There is a bucket, shovel, and pickaxe on the ground next to the hole. The hole has wood around it and a piece of wood with rope tied to it suspended over the hole. One man is standing in the hole holding the rope and the other man is helping to lower the rope. The left lower section shows three men by a river's edge. One man sits on the ground with a pan and large bucket. One man stands with a pickaxe and shovel over his shoulder. One man walks towards a pile of rocks with two buckets in his hand. The right lower section shows two men at a rough campsite. There is a large piece of suspended, patched canvas for a tent. One man cooks something over a small fire while the other man stands at the fire smoking a pipe.

1849

California gold rush

When gold was discovered in California, hundreds of thousands of people traveled there from around the world, thinking they could find a vein of gold and get rich quick. In truth, few people found gold, but lots of people made their fortunes by selling supplies to the miners who came looking for treasure...

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1849

Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery

A formal black and white photograph shows a woman in dark mid-1800s clothing. Her hair is pulled back and she is not smiling. She is standing in a room between a brocade chair and a small, cloth covered table. She rests her hands on the back of the chair next to her. A jacket and woman's bonnet is on the chair.

1849

Harriet Tubman escapes from slavery

Before 1865, there were slaves in America. Originally from Africa, slaves were people who belonged to someone else. Slaves were forced to work wherever their owners needed them. They often didn’t even get to stay with their own families...

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1850-1875

1852

Franklin Pierce elected U.S. president

In a color painting, a man sits on a leather chair against a brown background. He is wearing a black suit in the mid-1800s style with high collar and no tie. His hands rest on the arms of the chair in a casual manner, and he looks directly at the viewer with a small smile. He has short curly brown hair and no facial hair.

1852

Franklin Pierce elected U.S. president

Franklin Pierce was a very important man in New Hampshire politics. He led the Democratic Party in the state and served New Hampshire as both a congressman and a senator. In November 1852, he was elected president of the United States, the only president to come from New Hampshire...

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1853

Amos Tuck founds the Republican Party

1853

Amos Tuck founds the Republican Party

In 1853, a man from New Hampshire named Amos Tuck got a bunch of his friends together in Exeter and decided to form a new political party called the Republicans. The Republican Party stood against slavery in America. They challenged the Democratic Party for state and national offices...

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1861–1865

Civil War

A drum is 13.5 inches high and 17 inches in diameter. The sides are nickel-plated brass engraved with seven broken wreaths. In the center of the wreaths is an eagle with outspread wings and shield; it has lettering above. The lettering reads

1861–1865

Civil War

By 1860, many Americans had become angry over slavery. In the South, slavery had become part of a cherished way of life in which African-American slaves were forced to work for their white masters. In the North, where slavery had been outlawed, people began to argue that slavery was wrong and that African-Americans should be free...

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1863

The Battle of Gettysburg

A large, rectangle, color painting of a battle has many details. The sky covers the top half of the painting, and has bright and dark grey parts, but generally is distinguished by the many columns of smoke rising from the battle. The battle covers a large, wide open landscape and the viewer can see far into the distance where the battle ranges. Various details visible include riderless horses, men dead on the ground, Civil War cannons being fired, groups of infantry soldiers fighting at close quarters, men on horseback charging, and battered flags flying.

1863

The Battle of Gettysburg

Thousands of soldiers from New Hampshire fought in the Union Army during the Civil War, when the North (the Union) fought against the South (the Confederacy). The biggest battle of the war was the Battle of Gettysburg, fought on July 1-3, 1863, which the Union won...

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1867

Alaska becomes a U.S. territory

A decorative map shows a close up of the Alaskan purchase connected to western Canada. Alaska is dark orange and shows elevation lines. Canada is dark yellow and bodies of water are various shades of blue. In the water, an Eskimo hunts in a kayak near a seal and walrus. On the map various important towns in Alaska are labeled. The Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Aluetian Islands are labeled. The map is titled

1867

Alaska becomes a U.S. territory

Alaska did not become a U.S. territory until 1867. Before that, it was part of Russia. Russia had once had colonies all down the west coast through what is now Canada, Washington, Oregon, and even parts of California. Russia sold Alaska to the United States for $7.2 million...

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1869

Transcontinental railroad

A black and white photograph shows two railroad engines facing each other. The left exhaust pipe is large and shaped like an inverted funnel, while the other exhaust pipe is straight. There are many men in the photograph, standing on the ground, on the engines, and all around. They generally wear hats and working clothes, and some carry shovels or pickaxes. Some are dressed as conductors on trains. Two men in suits stand in the center and shake hands while everyone watches them or faces the camera.

1869

Transcontinental railroad

Railroads were built all over America in the mid-1800s, but the most important railroad was the transcontinental railroad. It linked the eastern portion of the United States with the western portion. No longer did people have to make the dangerous and long trip across the continent on foot or by wagon, which could take months...

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1869

Cog Railway opens

A color postcard of a train with one passenger car has a caption reading

1869

Cog Railway opens

An inventor named Sylvester Marsh loved the views from the top of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. But he thought there must be an easier way to get to the top than climbing up 6,000 feet. He developed a special kind of train, called a cog railway, that could climb such a steep terrain...

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1870

Marilla Ricker tries to vote

A black and white portrait of a woman shows her head, shoulders, and upper torso. She is dressed in formal 1800s clothing, with a dark dress and lace collar. Her hair is parted on the side and pulled back. She is facing away from the viewer towards the left, but turns her head to look over her shoulder, just off to the left side of center. She is not smiling. At the bottom of the portrait is written

1870

Marilla Ricker tries to vote

Women in New Hampshire—and throughout America—were not allowed to vote for many years. In 1870, a New Hampshire woman named Marilla Ricker tried to vote in her hometown of Dover. She was denied, but she kept turning in her votes in town elections for the rest of her life even if town officials refused to count them...

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1872

Skiing comes to New Hampshire

A black and white photograph shows a valley and small hill nearly covered with pine trees in the winter. In the middle of the hill a wide, straight track runs smoothly down the hill, covered with snow. In the distance, a tall tower is built on top of the hill to extend the height of the hill. A narrower, steep track runs down the tower at an angle to meet the track on the hill. A small building sits at the foot of the hill where the track ends.

1872

Skiing comes to New Hampshire

Lots of people from Scandinavian countries moved to New Hampshire in the 1800s to work in the timber industry in the White Mountains. They brought with them many traditions from the countries they came from, including cross-country skiing...

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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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2000-Present

2001

September 11 attacks

A distant view of a city is shown in this color photograph. In the foreground is a low concrete railing with a sign

2001

September 11 attacks

The largest terrorist attack on American soil happened on September 11, 2001, when terrorists hijacked four airplanes and flew them into important buildings. Two of the planes hit the World Trade Center in New York City, one hit the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth was headed for the U.S. Capitol building before it crashed in a field in Pennsylvania...

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2001

Segway is unveiled

2001

Segway is unveiled

Although New Hampshire faced hard times after most of the mills and factories in the state closed in the early part of the 20th century, new businesses began to emerge in the state by the end of the 1900s. Many of these businesses focused on new technology, like video games and computers...

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2003

Old Man of the Mountain falls

The edge of a rocky mountain is seen in this color photograph. There are sparse trees leading to the rocky cliff, which has granite slabs of no particular formation.

2003

Old Man of the Mountain falls

The Old Man of the Mountain has been one of New Hampshire’s most popular tourist destinations since the 1800s. By the early 1900s, though, there were signs that the Old Man wasn’t as stable as he should be. In the 1920s, scientists installed a series of steel rods and clamps to keep the Old Man in place...

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2012

Women represent New Hampshire

In a color photograph, five women sit at a table wearing suits, all facing an audience. Two are clapping and all are smiling. On the table in front of them is a large arrangement of flowers and some water bottles. Behind them are the words

2012

Women represent New Hampshire

In 2012, New Hampshire became the first state in the country to have all its representatives to the federal government be women. The Granite State’s two senators that year were Jeanne Shaheen and Kelly Ayotte. New Hampshire’s two delegates to the House of Representatives were Ann McLane Kuster and Carol Shea Porter. New Hampshire’s governor was also a woman, Maggie Hassan.

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NH's Physical Characteristics
NH's Climate
NH's Weather
Features of the Land
Regions of NH
Writing the Land

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New Hampshire's Physical Characteristics

What gave the land of New Hampshire its features?

Millions of years ago, New Hampshire was covered with ice, as was most of the world. This period was called the ice age. When the ice receded, it left behind mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys. These physical features are major landmarks that have shaped the way people have lived in New Hampshire for thousands of years.

Mason Explains: Glaciers in New Hampshire

Shaping the land!

New Hampshire has beautiful natural features like mountains, rivers, beaches, and lakes. Did you ever wonder how all these things were made? Glaciers, of course! Watch this video to learn how glaciers made the Granite State the way it is today.

New Hampshire's Mountains

The glaciers left behind many mountains in New Hampshire. Most of them are located in the middle of the state in a mountain range known as the White Mountains. The name was used by the early English colonists in New Hampshire, who could see the mountains from where they had settled along the coast. From that distance, the tops of the mountains always looked white, either because they were covered with snow or because of the rock that lies at the summit of each peak. The colonists started calling them the White Mountains or just "The Whites."

The White Mountain range covers one-third of the state. The mountain range has more than 48 mountains that are taller than 4,000 feet. The tallest is Mount Washington, which is 6,288 feet high and the tallest mountain in northeastern America.

In addition to these very tall mountains, there are also many other mountains in New Hampshire. In fact, there are almost 300 mountains in the state that are between 1,000 feet and 4,000 feet high. Many of them are in the White Mountains, but others are spread out around the state. For example, Mount Monadnock is a major landmark in the southeastern part of New Hampshire, and Mount Kearsarge to the north is just as important to the people who live in that area. The twin peaks of the Uncanoonucs near the Merrimack River in Goffstown are the tallest mountains in that part of the state.

Unit 1 Vocabulary List

Four Thousand Footer Club

Mason's Fun Fact

Rivers as Highways

Mason's Fun Fact

New Hampshire's Waterways

New Hampshire has many lakes and rivers.

There are more than 1,300 lakes and ponds in the state. Many of these lakes are centered in the Lakes Region, including the state's largest lake, Lake Winnipesaukee. But there are many lakes and ponds all over the state, such as Lake Sunapee in the western part of the state and Pawtuckaway Lake near the seacoast. Tourists often came to New Hampshire to visit the state's beautiful lakes.

In addition, there are more than 40,000 miles of rivers and streams in New Hampshire, including several major rivers like the Connecticut, the Merrimack, and the Saco, all of which flow into other New England states. In fact, New Hampshire is sometimes called the "Mother of Rivers" since these three important New England rivers begin in the Granite State.

The Granite State

The glaciers of the last ice age also left all over the area large deposits of granite, for which New Hampshire later became famous.

Granite is a type of rock that is very hard, harder than other kinds of rocks. Although granite can be found in many states, New Hampshire’s granite is famous because there is so much of it in the state. New Hampshire granite has been used in many of the country’s most impressive buildings. That is why New Hampshire is known as the Granite State.

All About Granite

Soon after the ice age ended, plants like grasses, bushes, and trees began to grow. The plants provided food and shelter for animals, and animal life began to flourish too. New Hampshire had become a land rich in natural resources.

New Hampshire's Borders

Where is New Hampshire, and what are its borders?

Mason Explains: Where Is New Hampshire

Finding the Granite State!

When you're in the Granite State, where in the world are you? Join Mason as he shows you where to find New Hampshire on a map and how people decided on its borders.

The borders of New Hampshire have not always been the same as they are today. In fact, there were no borders at all until the end of the 1600s. The Abenaki Native Americans lived in what is today Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and northern Massachusetts and did not have strict borders for their land.

Even the first English settlers did not define borders for New Hampshire. Instead, they lived in four towns that were near the seacoast. In 1679, people tried to make clear borders for New Hampshire, but they had lots of arguments with people in Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont about where their borders were. Most of these arguments were settled by 1740. By then New Hampshire’s borders were more or less the same as they are today.

The 45th Parallel

New Hampshire's Borders

New Hampshire's Counties

In 1769, New Hampshire divided the land into counties, which are units of government that are larger than a town but smaller than a state. There were originally five counties, all in the southern part of New Hampshire, which was the only area that had already been settled by the English.

The counties were called Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, Rockingham, and Strafford. They were all named after people or places in Great Britain because New Hampshire was a British colony at the time, ruled by the British king. As more of New Hampshire was settled over the years, new counties in other parts of the state were added: Coos in 1805; Merrimack in 1823; Sullivan in 1827; Belknap in 1841, and Carroll in 1841.

New Hampshire's Counties

New Hampshire's Towns and Cities

Within each county are towns and cities.

New Hampshire has 221 towns. Most of the people in the state live in them, and towns, not cities, were the earliest colonial settlements. From the 17th century to the 19th century, towns were founded throughout the state. Sometimes when towns became too big, they split into two towns. For example, the Town of Londonderry was founded in 1722. It grew so big that the communities of Derry and Windham broke off to form their own towns.

Other times large towns became cities. The townspeople have to vote to turn their town into a city. When a town becomes a city it gets a new form of government. New Hampshire has 13 cities spread out around the state. Every county in New Hampshire has at least one city, except Carroll County.

The state capital of New Hampshire is Concord, which is located in the geographical center of the state. But Concord is not at the center of the state’s population. Most of the people in New Hampshire live in the southern part of the state.

New Hampshire's 13 Cities

Let's Review!

What are the big ideas in this section?

The End of the Ice Age

Glaciers created many of New Hampshire's physical features. When the last ice age ended, plant and animal life started to come back to the land we call New Hampshire.

NH's Natural Resources

New Hampshire has many natural resources, and the land has been shaped by its mountains, lakes, and rivers. The state is best known for a type of stone called granite that can be found all over New Hampshire.

The Creation of NH's Borders

New Hampshire's borders changed during the colonial period. The borders it has today were set by 1740. Some of the borders are determined by physical features, like rivers and the ocean.

NH's Counties, Cities, and Towns

New Hampshire has 10 counties, 13 cities, and 221 towns. Most of the population lives in the southern portion of the state.

Map Activity: Spot the Difference

Draw It: Create Your Own Map of NH

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New Hampshire's Climate

What is New Hampshire’s climate like?

An area’s climate describes the expected weather conditions over a long period of time. How cold does it usually get in January in New Hampshire? How much rain does New Hampshire typically get in the spring? How many sunny days does New Hampshire normally have in the summer? These are questions about the state’s climate.

The climate and the weather are not the same thing, although they are closely related. The weather describes what the conditions were on a specific day. For example, knowing if it rained yesterday is part of an area’s weather. But knowing how many inches of rain an area gets on average every year is part of its climate.

One way to look at it is that climate is understanding the conditions you should expect based on the time of year (sunny, cloudy, snow, etc.), but weather is what kind of conditions you actually get on any given day (today is breezy and warm).

Weather Journaling

Wind on Mount Washington

New Hampshire has a temperate climate, which means it is not too hot or too cold. It doesn’t always feel that way to the people who live here, though! The winters can be very cold, and the summers can be very hot. But compared to other parts of the world, New Hampshire’s climate is considered a comfortable one for people.

The Four Seasons

New Hampshire's Four Seasons

There are four seasons in New Hampshire: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Many people joke that the four seasons in New Hampshire are winter, still winter, summer, and almost winter. Others say that New Hampshire's four seasons are winter, mud season, road construction season, and leaf-peeper season. No matter how you refer to New Hampshire's four seasons, they certainly can bring some wild weather to the Granite State.

Winter

In winter, New Hampshire experiences cold temperatures, snow, ice, and high winds. Much of the state's wild weather comes during the winter in blizzards, nor’easters, and ice storms.

On average, New Hampshire gets 64 inches of snow every year. It is common to have snow on the ground all winter long. Snow sports, such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snow-mobiling, are very popular in New Hampshire. The state is crisscrossed with trails for these activities. Ice fishing is popular in New Hampshire as well, and it is a common sight in winter to see small shacks on frozen lakes that provide some shelter for ice fishermen.

Traveling in snow presents real challenges. People used to get around in winter on sleighs since the wheels on wagons or carriages couldn't move over snow. When cars were invented in the early 1900s, they were built to swap out the tires and install skis in their place in the winter months. Can you imagine a car on skis? At about this same time, towns started using giant rollers, pulled by horses, to flatten the snow so that sleighs and cars (with skis) could get around more easily. It was not until the late 1920s that towns began to plow snow off the roads so that cars could keep their tires on all year.

The White Mountains draw thousands of tourists and Granite Staters every winter, as they tend to get more snow than the rest of the state and have colder temperatures. Many of the downhill ski resorts are located in this region of the state. There is no skiing on Mount Washington, but it usually gets 260 inches of snow a year!

Seasonal Winter Poem

Ice Harvesting

Seasonal Spring Poem

Maple Syrup

Spring

Spring is sometimes known as “mud season,” because the melting snow makes the ground wet and muddy. Spring can be almost as cold as winter, or it can be as hot as summer. There’s an old saying about spring in New Hampshire: if you don’t like the weather, just wait a few minutes because it will change! People never know what to expect with the weather during New Hampshire springs, although there are always lots of bugs, especially black flies.

Although it rains in spring, summer, and fall in New Hampshire, most of the state's precipitation comes in the spring. On average, New Hampshire gets 37 inches of rain a year, spread out over several rainfalls. Spring is when New Hampshire is most likely to have floods. New Hampshire is the 20th wettest state in America, which means it gets more precipitation than 30 other states!

In early spring, people in New Hampshire tap maple trees and collect sap to make maple syrup, which is available in pancake houses around the state.

Late spring brings out beautiful purple flowers called lilacs, which are the New Hampshire state flower. Lilacs grow in large bushes and appear all over the state, although mostly in the southern part of New Hampshire. There is a governor's commission, formed in 1984, to promote the growing of lilacs in New Hampshire, and every spring, the historic Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion in Portsmouth holds a lilac festival in late May.

Summer

Summers tend to be hot and humid in New Hampshire, but it is great weather to enjoy the outdoors in the Granite State, especially by visiting its many lakes and rivers. There are 93 state parks in New Hampshire, offering swimming, boating, hiking, camping, fishing, bird-watching, and all sorts of outdoor activities.

Berry-picking is also popular in the state in the summer. New Hampshire is also well-known for its ice cream, especially flavors like maple walnut.

Many tourists come to New Hampshire for vacation during the summer, and lots of people in Massachusetts and New York have summer homes here. Children have been going to summer camps in New Hampshire since the 1880s. People from other states all over the country send their children to New Hampshire for the summer so they can swim, fish, hike, and enjoy all the fun of living near the state’s lakes and mountains.

1816: The Year without a Summer

Mason's Fun Fact

Painting NH's Fall Colors

Kancamagus Highway

Mason's Fun Fact

Fall

Fall, also called autumn, is the favorite season of many people in New Hampshire. The state is known for the beautiful colors of its trees during this time.
Why does New Hampshire have such gorgeous falls? The state is full ofdeciduous trees. This kind of tree drops its leaves every fall and grows them back in the spring. The shorter days of fall cause the pigments in the trees’ leaves to change, making the leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, or red. Birch, maple, hickory, and ash are all deciduous trees. When there’s less sunlight in the fall because of the shorter days, the leaves of New Hampshire’s trees turn brilliant colors.

Thousands of people visit New Hampshire to see the leaves change color every year. They are called “leaf peepers,” and their arrival in the Granite State every fall makes the fall one of New Hampshire’s best tourist seasons. The visitors stay in inns and hotels, eat in restaurants, visit tourist attractions, and buy souvenirs.

Farms in New Hampshire are also busy spots in the fall. Apple-picking and pumpkin patches are some of the most popular Granite State attractions every September and October.

Elevation in New Hampshire

Even though the state is small, it has a varied climate, mainly because of the White Mountains, which are very tall. The tallest peak in the White Mountains is Mount Washington, which reaches more than 1 mile into the sky. Mount Washington has its own climate, and conditions on the summit are often very different from conditions at the base of the mountain.

The climate in these mountains is much cooler than it is in the rest of the state because the mountains are so high. That means that even though the mountains have the four seasons like the rest of the state, the summers and the winters are both cooler than in other places in New Hampshire. At high elevations, the wind speeds up, which cools down the air and can make it rain or snow. That’s why it can be cold in the White Mountains on the same day it is hot on New Hampshire’s coast.

Mount Washington

Wind-speed on Mount Washington

Mason's Fun Fact

Statement on Climate Change

Climate Change

Over the past several decades, the climate of New Hampshire—and the world—has been changing too quickly. Most of this change is due to things that people do, especially activities that burn a lot of fuel, like powering factories and driving cars. Because of these activities, the earth is warming up faster than it should, which is called global warming. If the world gets even a few degrees warmer, it can have a big impact on plant and animal life. It can also lead to geological change, like the melting of the glaciers that are the world’s polar ice caps, which would affect the climate here in New Hampshire and everywhere else.

Let's Review!

What are the big ideas in this section?

Climate vs. Weather

Climate refers to the expected conditions in an area (summers are usually hot). Weather refers to the conditions that actually occur (yesterday was hot).

NH's Four Seasons

New Hampshire has four distinct seasons: winter, spring, summer, and fall. Each season has typical weather conditions, and Granite Staters have developed different traditions that are associated with each season.

NH's Mountains

There are many tall mountains in New Hampshire, including 48 mountains that are over 4,000 feet. These mountains bring a big change in elevation to the state.

Climate Change

New Hampshire's climate, like the rest of the world's, is heating up too fast. This is called climate change, and it can cause all sorts of problems for the people, plants, and animals that live here.

Calendar Fun in Every Month

Brainstorm: Your Favorite Season

Fill-in-the-Blanks: NH's Climate

Fill-in-the-Blanks: NH's Seasons

You're on page

New Hampshire's Weather

What is New Hampshire’s weather like?

New Hampshire’s four seasons, and its weather, are determined by its climate. Although each season has typical weather, sometimes the state’s weather can get a little wild. New Hampshire has had all kinds of weather throughout its history, even major weather events like floods, hurricanes, ice storms, and blizzards (sometimes called nor’easters).

Secret Found... Color Mason The Moose!

SECRET FOUND!

Play the Matching Game with Mason The Moose :)

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GAME SETTINGS

Learn It! New Hampshire Geography

New Hampshire Geography

NEW HAMPSHIRE EVENTS

U.S. & WORLD EVENTS

New Hampshire's Physical Characteristics

Mason Explains: Glaciers in New Hampshire

Shaping the land!

New Hampshire's Mountains

Unit 1 Vocabulary List

Four Thousand Footer Club

Rivers as Highways

New Hampshire's Waterways

The Granite State

All About Granite

New Hampshire's Borders

Mason Explains: Where Is New Hampshire

Finding the Granite State!

The 45th Parallel

New Hampshire's Borders

New Hampshire's Counties

New Hampshire's Counties

New Hampshire's Towns and Cities

New Hampshire's 13 Cities

Let's Review!

The End of the Ice Age

NH's Natural Resources

The Creation of NH's Borders

NH's Counties, Cities, and Towns

Map Activity: Spot the Difference

Draw It: Create Your Own Map of NH

New Hampshire's Climate

Weather Journaling

Wind on Mount Washington

The Four Seasons

New Hampshire's Four Seasons

Winter

Seasonal Winter Poem

Ice Harvesting

Seasonal Spring Poem

Maple Syrup

Spring

Summer

1816: The Year without a Summer

Painting NH's Fall Colors

Kancamagus Highway

Fall

Elevation in New Hampshire

Mount Washington

Wind-speed on Mount Washington

Statement on Climate Change

Climate Change

Let's Review!

Climate vs. Weather

NH's Four Seasons

NH's Mountains

Climate Change

Calendar Fun in Every Month

Brainstorm: Your Favorite Season

Fill-in-the-Blanks: NH's Climate

Fill-in-the-Blanks: NH's Seasons

New Hampshire's Weather

Secret Found...
Color Mason The Moose!