Historic NH houses worth visiting

New Hampshire, one of the original Thirteen Colonies. Also one of the birthplaces of the spark that would light the revolutionary fuse. Being that steeped into history, it is no wonder there is an abundance of historic NH houses that are worth visiting. These range from homes of statesmen and founding fathers to the homes of famous American artists. Thanks to that it seems there are historic NH houses that fit everyone’s tastes. Therefore, whether you are visiting this lovely state and want to make the most of it, or you are living here and just want to enjoy your state, NH will have something for you. So, come along with us as we explore historic NH houses worth visiting!

Seal of New Hampshire
New Hampshire is one of the oldest states, which results in it having many historic houses you could visit

The Richard Jackson House

What would be better for starting our list of historic NH houses worth visiting than the oldest wood-frame house in NH? This incredible structure built in 1664 by Richard Jackson, still stands strong in Portsmouth, NH. One thing that makes the structure incredible is the fact that it was built only 34 years after the area that would become Portsmouth was first settled by colonists. This means that, if you intend on visiting or even moving to Portsmouth, you can visit and touch a place that is as old as the city itself! In the following years, Jackson’s descendants expanded the house. As such, it had witnessed Paul Revere riding to warn that the British were coming. With all that considered it is clear why is the Richard Jackson House considered such an important historical landmark.

The Moffatt-Ladd House – one of the historic NH houses worth visiting

While we are exploring Portsmouth, we should mention the Moffatt-Ladd House or the William Whipple House as it is sometimes known.  This beautiful structure used to be the house of the Founding Father William Whipple. It boasts a fully furnished interior with historic items that include Whipple’s sword and other personal items. The house also has a beautiful garden. Apart from its historical aspect, the house offers a variety of events, making it one of the historic NH houses that are definitely worth visiting.

Portsmouth street
Portsmouth is the home of many historic NH houses that are worth a visit

The Daniel Webster Family Home

One historic NH house that movers Merrimack NH might tell you about is the Daniel Webster Family Home. This building, also known as The Elms, was the summer home of Daniel Webster.  The historic statesman and prominent attorney inherited the house from his father and chose it as his summer residence. Boasting the beautiful 19th-century architecture with a classic porch, the house will be an amazing site to visit for all historical architecture lovers.

Governor John Langdon House

Talking about the love of architecture, something that local movers NH would recommend for a visit would be the Governor John Langdon House. Even George Washington is said to have praised the beauty of this estate in Portsmouth. This structure build in the Georgian style features grand-scale reception rooms decorated in the Rococo style. The same woodwork can be found in its elaborate entry hall. The exterior of the house is no less amazing. It boasts an imposing façade and a huge garden complete with a wooden pavilion. Both the reception room and the dining room have been given a new purpose since the hose was declared a National Historic Landmark, providing a space for art exhibitions under the guidance of Historic New England organization.

Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park as one of the historic NH houses with more to offer

Talking about art, we simply could not avoid mentioning the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park. The centerpiece of this space is the home of the famous American sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Surrounding it are the gardens and studios that served as the center for the Cornish Art Colony. All of this resulted in the house being enriched with over 100 pieces of art now on display in the house and on the grounds. Apart from that, visitors of the Park can enjoy the grounds, designed by Saint-Gaudens himself. The house also offers several events during the year such as outdoor concerts and sculpting workshops. All this easily makes the complex one of the historic NH houses worth visiting. Especially if you love art!

A pond in NH
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park spans a large area including water features.

The Warner House

Our list of historic NH houses worth visiting would not be complete without mentioning the oldest urban brick house in New England. Known as the Warner House as well as the MacPheadris–Warner House, this historic building was erected in 1716. At first, it served as the governor’s mansion for the royal governor Benning Wentworth during the colonial era. Interestingly, Benning later moved to his country estate which later became another NH historic site – the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion. Today the house serves as a historic house museum. Something that families moving to NH with children should take note of is the many events on offer in this historic hose, some designed particularly for children!

The Gilman Garrison House

Unlike other historic NH houses from this list, the Gilman Garrison House was not built with only the comfort in mind. Being located in Exeter, New Hampshire’s revolutionary capital the house is especially interesting for its military features. Originally fortified for its protection, this building, erected in 1709, had several unusual features. There is evidence that it housed a wooden portcullis as well as firing holes in the overhang floor. Today the house serves a more civilian purpose, being converted into a museum. Still, several rooms, especially the council room, emphasize its role in the American Revolutionary War.

Historic NH houses worth visiting

While compiling our list, we aimed at giving a broad overview of several different and interesting houses in New Hampshire. That being said, there are many more historic NH houses worth visiting in this old state. So, if exploring places such as these is something you’d like, we would recommend starting off with our list while keeping in mind that there is much more left to explore!