Historical Markers in
Rockingham County, New Hampshire

18 Congress 1867 480 Portsmouth Avenue A Little Band Of Pioneers Abraham Lincoln Speaks in New Hampshire African Burying Ground Memorial America's Stonehenge Atlantic Cable Station and Sunken Forest Bell of Fifth Congregational Church Building Black Yankees and The Sea Brigadier General Enoch Poor Ceilia Layton Thaxter Chester American Revolutionary War Memorial Chester Civil War Memorial Chester Persian Gulf Veterans Memorial Chester Roll of Honor Chester Vietnam War Memorial Chester Village Cemetery Civil War Riot of 1861 CMoMM (SS) Arthur L. Stanton Chief of the Boat (COB) Colonel Tobias Lear Congregational Church Dedicated to the men of the USS Thresher (SSN 593) Early American Clocks Exeter NH Exeter Gas Works Exeter NH Folsom and Gilman Marker Exeter NH War Memorial Exeter Town House First New Hampshire Turnpike First Public School Marker Fort William and Mary Commemoration Marker Frank Jones's Hotels Fremont Village Cemetery Frost Cemetery George Leonard Smith Gun Hampton NH 9/11 Memorial Hampton NH Honor Rolls Haven Park Historic Black Rocks Village / Historic Fremont, N.H.-Olde Poplin Horse Chestnut In This House Admiral (John) Paul Jones Resided Isles Of Shoals James (Stavers) James Baxter Sergeant John Paul Jones House John Prescott Lovering's Inn John Samuel Blunt, Painter Joseph & Nancy (Cotton) and their children, Eleazor & James Josiah Bartlett Key Facts about Pulpit Rock Tower Kingston War Memorial Ladd-Gilman House LaFayette's Tour Lafayette's Tour Liberty Pole and Bridge Major John Simpson Mast Tree Riot of 1734 Meeting House and Hearse House Memorial Bridge 1923-2012 Mines Building Nation's Oldest Bank Native American Dugout Canoe Native American Wigwam Negro Pews New Castle Congregational Church New Hampshire's First Black Church New Hampshire's Lost Boat New Isles of Shoals Marker North Cemetery North Pier Northwood NH War Memorial Northwood NH WWI Honor Roll Northwood NH WWII Honor Roll Northwood Parade 1775 Old Landing Road On this site was born Fitz John Porter Oracle House Point of Graves Portcullis Portsmouth Memorial Bridge Marker Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Memorial Portsmouth Navy Yard Portsmouth NH Marine Railway Portsmouth NH Red Light District Portsmouth NH World War II Marker Portsmouth Pier & Wharves Portsmouth Veteran's Memorial Powder House Powder House Prince Whipple and Winsor Maffatt Revolutionary Petitioners Pulpit Rock Fire Control Tower Rev. Ira S. Jones Revolutionary Capital Roll of Honor WW II Rolls of Honor Viet Nam and Korean War Russell A. Hanscom Memorial Rye NH War Memorial Sam Walter Foss Second Burial Ground Shapley Line Sheafe Warehouse Siras Bruce Site of the Brown Library Site of the First Congregational Church Site of the First Mill At Falls of the Squamscott River Site of the Log Meeting-House Site of "Negro Burying Ground" Soldiers and Sailors Monument Soldier's Memorial Spanish American War Memorial Spaulding & Frost Cooperage Spring Hill Waterfront Stevens Memorial Hall Still On Patrol Temple Israel The Chester Congregational Church The Continental Frigate "Raleigh" The Folsom Tavern The Oldest Town Forest in the United States The Original New Hampshire State House The Pattee Area The Proprietary School The South Church Thorvald's Rock Three Sisters Garden Treaty of Portsmouth 1905 U.S.S. Albacore U.S.S. O9 SS-70 U.S.S. Squalus SS-192 US Route 1 Bypass of Portsmouth, NH (1940) USS Albacore SS 218 Memorial Walbach Tower Wentworth Cheswill William and Mary Raids World War I Honor Roll
New Hampshire was the first state to declare its independence from Great Britain and ratify the United States Constitution.
New Hampshire random facts
Rockingham County, New Hampshire has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1769. Named after Charles Watson-Wentworth, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, this county was initially settled by European colonists seeking new opportunities in the New World. The original inhabitants of the area were the Pennacook Native American tribe, who were gradually displaced as more settlers arrived.

In its early years, Rockingham County was primarily an agricultural region. Farming was a vital part of the economy, with crops like corn, wheat, and potatoes being grown. The county also had a thriving shipbuilding industry, taking advantage of its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the coast, several small towns and fishing villages emerged, contributing to the county's growth.

During the American Revolutionary War, Rockingham County played a significant role. Exeter, one of its major towns, was temporarily the capital of New Hampshire and hosted the state's government meetings. Many local residents actively participated in the war effort, serving in the military or supporting the cause in various ways.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Rockingham County experienced rapid industrialization and urbanization. The textile industry became prominent, with mills popping up along the region's rivers. The county's population boomed, and towns like Portsmouth, Derry, and Salem saw significant growth. Today, Rockingham County remains a thriving area, blending its historical roots with modern developments, making it a vibrant part of New Hampshire's cultural and economic landscape.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Rockingham County, New Hampshire.

  • 1623 - Captain John Mason receives a land grant for the area known as New Hampshire.
  • 1629 - The first English settlement, known as Little Harbor, is established.
  • 1641 - The area becomes part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  • 1679 - New Hampshire is separated from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and becomes its own province.
  • Rockingham County is officially established, named after Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, in 1769.
  • 1775-1783 - Rockingham County residents actively participate in the American Revolutionary War.
  • 1816 - The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is established in Kittery, Maine, but is located across the Piscataqua River from Rockingham County.
  • 1903 - The Hampton Beach State Park is established.
  • 1938 - The Great New England Hurricane causes significant damage to the county and other parts of New England.
  • 1980 - The Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant begins commercial operations, generating controversy and public protests.