Concord: A Wealth of History & Culture

INTRODUCTION

With a rich history and thriving cultural industry committed to education in the arts and history, Concord is the capital city of the state of New Hampshire with a population of over 42 000. Centrally located in the state of New Hampshire, it allows easy access to nearby towns, beaches, parks and more. Visitors will discover that Concord has plenty of sights and attractions to keep them entertained, and is never lacking events that encourage cultural enrichment and learning.

Concord State House1

HISTORY

Originally home to First Nations tribes, Concord’s rich food and water resources and ideal farming conditions made it a great location for communities to sustain living. By the early 1700s, it had become a small European settlement, and was incorporated as a town in 1733. Known as the town of Rumford, it quickly became a prominent location for people to settle. A dispute between the boundaries of Rumford and Bow resulted in Rumford being renamed as Concord in order settle opposition. Results of continual growth throughout the 18th century is still visible on the city’s street. Many of Concord's earliest homes have been preserved and can be seen on the north side of the city. Due to its prime location and access to water canals and vessels, Concord was a front runner in the choice for a state capital immediately following the American Revolution, and in 1808 Concord became the official seat of state government. The Concord State House constructed in 1819 is still used today by legislative branches.

CULTURE

Honouring the strong history of First Nations tribes in the area prior to European expansion, Concord contains museums showcasing their traditions, values and way of life. The Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum exhibits First Nations arts, and clever tools and technologies, and hosts traditional events to honor New Hampshire's cultural history. Visitors can take part in pow wows, tribal ceremonies and more.

	Capitol Centre for the Arts, Concord 2

Concord's cultural scene emphasizes the arts and is comprised of a number of galleries popular with visitors. McGowan Fine Art has been open for over 20 years, and exemplifies Concord's promotion of local arts. Like many other galleries in the area, McGowan is the link between the artist and the audience, through showcasing pieces by local artists and facilitating sales.

Support for the performing arts can be seen in the Capitol Centre for the Arts, a venue created with the intent to encourage, entertain and educate both performers and audiences. Open since 1995, it has become a world class stage which draws international performers. Audiences can expect to see a range of shows, including Broadway shows and contemporary top artists, as well as local talent.

ECONOMY

Concord's proximity to water allowed it to be a vital center for commerce, with inland trade, carriage manufacturing, furniture making and more, during its early days. Granite quarrying was also a major industry with Rattlesnake Hill, which continues to flourish in granite production to date. More recently, many health care and insurance companies have relocated their headquarters to Concord.

GEOGRAPHY

Concord is situated within the Merrimack River watershed, and the city's districts radiate out from around the river, which runs from the northwest end to the southeast end of the city. West of the river, downtown Concord is home to a number of residential zones, which extend further west to Penacook Lake and south towards the town of Bow. To the east, the Soucook River is aligned with the town of Pembroke and marks the city limits. The villages of Penacook, East Concord and West Concord are also included in the Condord district and define the city limits.

CLIMATE

January and February are the coldest and snowiest months, so travellers headed to Concord in the winter season should plan to dress warmly and pack parkas, hats, gloves and scarves. July tends to be the hottest month and while June through and August are generally sunny, they do see their share of rainy days. Due to its proximity to the coast, Concord attracts a number of mosquitoes and bugs in the spring ans summer so having sprays and lotions to prevent bites is a good idea. November tends to be the wettest month so visitors should bring along umbrellas and warm clothes.

TRANSPORTATION

Getting There

Airports
Due to the fact that Concord Municipal Airport does not accept common carrier charter flights, visitors traveling by air must access the city via Manchester Municipal Airport. When traveling with a vehicle, Concord is located approximately an hour and half away and is much closer than the alternative, the Boston Logan International Airport. Once on the ground, travelers can find many ways to access Concord, such as shuttles, charter bus services, taxis and car rentals.

Streets and Highways
With a central location in the state of New Hampshire, Concord is well connected to a number of highways. Visitors can access all directions of the state via Interstate 93, Interstate 89, Interstate 393, as well as a number of state highways.

Trains and Buses
Providing freight rail service and tours to the Concord area, New England Southern Railroad Company Rail Lines give access to Boston, the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. Alternately, Concord Trailways offers connector bus service from Concord, to Boston and Portland.

Margarita Building, Concord 3

Getting Around

Cars and Taxis
Visitors who fly into town will find a number of vehicle rental companies providing cars and trucks for those who wish to tour Concord and surrounding areas with ease. Travelers touring the city by car will find that a number of parking garages are available and most businesses provide free parking outside their establishments, or close by. Parking meters are prevalant on the streets of downtown Concord as well. Select meters accept pre-paid parking meter cards available for purchase from the Concord Police Department or City Hall. Taxis in Concord are available continually and provide service in and around the city. They are a good choice for visitors who wish to tour the city on foot, simply used for providing a ride to one central location, such as downtown Concord.

Public Transit
Concord Area Transit is the city's public transit system and is comprised of three different types of transportation. Fixed route service provides general public service to and from prominent areas of the city, with numerous stops along the way. It operates Monday through Friday, between 6am and 7pm. In association with Concord Area Transit, Central New Hampshire Transportation provides door to door services using the combined transportation, scheduling and dispatching resources of transportation providers within Concord. Available weekdays from 6:30am to 5:30pm, users must provide reservations at least 24 hours in advance, noting service is on a first come first served basis. For those over the age of 60, the senior transit system provides transportation through 10 towns of Merrimack County with 24 hours advance notice. If additional space is available, those under 60 are welcome to use the service.

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

	Eagle Square, Concord 4

Main Street
Located in downtown Concord, Main Street businesses are members of a non-profit organization committed to dynamic events, colourful festivals and creating an enduring cultural district. Main Street is host to various events, such as the Summer Musical Festival and Market Days, Halloween Howl and more. In addition to restaurants and shops, the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, the Capitol Center for the Arts, the Museum of New Hampshire History and the McGowan Fine Art gallery can be found on Main Street.

Christa McAuliffe Planetarium
Built to honour the memory of Christa McAuliffe, a New Hampshire schoolteacher who died aboard the doomed space shuttle Challenger, this planetarium exhibits educational and entertaining displays in the field of astronomy and science. Using advanced effects, a domed planetarium theatre takes visitors on a journey through the solar system and beyond the Milky Way. In addition, educational workshops such as rocket making and shuttle landing are designed to inspire young minds.

Museum of New Hampshire History
Established in 1823, the New Hampshire Historical Society is dedicated to maintaining and passing along the legacy of the state through the Museum of New Hampshire History. With a large catalogue of publications, archives and resources, the museum offers a wealth of information to visitors. Collections include a variety of objects, books, newspapers and photographs that showcase New Hampshire’s history of culture and politics. Changing exhibitions, both on site and on the road feature a number of historical topics. Lectures, demonstrations and events such as family days are designed for the general public to create an understanding and appreciation of the state’s impressive past.

Canterbury Shaker Village
Canterbury Shaker Village was founded in 1969 with the intent to illustrate and preserve the 200 year old tradition of the Shaker way of life. With origins in Manchester, England that date back to the 1700s, the Shakers were a Protestant religious group dedicated to celibacy and achieving perfect holiness.Situated north of Concord, the village has become a historic site renowned for its reconstruction of Canterbury Shaker life, its original buildings and abundance of greenery. A variety of different tours, programs and exhibits are available to visitors, including storytelling, educational sessions and self-guided tours.

Parks
Bear Brook State Park and Clough State Park are both located south of Concord, and offer an abundance of outdoor activities. Both parks are great for hiking, biking and fishing; however, Clough State also offers swimming and boating as it is located on the shores of Everett Lake.

1. c/o Main Street Concord; Concord Statehouse; Concord, New Hampshire, USA
2. c/o Main Street Concord; Capitol Centre for the Arts; Concord, New Hampshire, USA
3. c/o Main Street Concord; Margarita Building; Concord, New Hampshire, USA
4. c/o Main Street Concord; Eagle Square; Concord, New Hampshire, USA