Buzz
Known for having the boldest state motto and some of the most extreme weather in history, New Hampshire is far more resilient than many give it credit for. Discover 25 lesser-known facts about the Granite State.
1. Funspot, located in Laconia, New Hampshire, earned the title of the world's largest arcade from Guinness World Records in 2008. It boasts a collection of over 600 games, with half being vintage arcade classics.
2. The Anheuser-Busch facility in Merrimack, New Hampshire, offers visitors the chance to see the East Coast home of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
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3.
The man who inspired the iconic national symbol Uncle Sam spent his early years in Mason, New Hampshire during the late 1700s. Samuel “Uncle Sam” Wilson later joined a meatpacking business that provided supplies to soldiers in the War of 1812. Troops who knew Sam playfully interpreted the “U.S.” stamped on their rations as a nod to “Uncle Sam” Wilson, sparking the legend. While his childhood home remains a private residence today, visitors can learn about his legacy from the historical marker outside.
4. Alan Shepard, the first American to journey into space in 1961, hailed from Derry, New Hampshire.
5. The Treaty of Portsmouth, signed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, brought an end to the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–1905. This historic agreement remains the sole instance of a foreign conflict being resolved on American territory.
6. For generations, the Old Man of the Mountain stood as New Hampshire’s most iconic symbol, overlooking the White Mountains. This unique rock formation, composed of five granite ledges on Cannon Mountain, created the striking silhouette of an elderly man when seen from the north. It became a fixture on state route signs, license plates, and quarters, and even inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story “The Great Stone Face.”
Sadly, the formation crumbled on May 3, 2003, after years of freeze-thaw cycles. Grieving residents laid flowers at the cliff’s base, and efforts were made to update the state flag in its honor. In 2011, the Profile Plaza was unveiled as a memorial, featuring seven “profilers”—steel rods that, when viewed correctly, seem to restore the old man to his former position.
James Walsh via Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0
7.
In 1719, some of the earliest potatoes cultivated in America were planted by Scottish-Irish settlers in what is now Derry, New Hampshire. The white potato is now celebrated as the official state vegetable.
8. New Hampshire boasts the shortest coastline among all coastal states, measuring just under 18 miles.
9. The beloved nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was written by New Hampshire’s own Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830. Hale also played a key role in establishing Thanksgiving as a national holiday, tirelessly lobbying officials until Abraham Lincoln declared it a national observance after receiving her letter.
10. In 1833, the town of Peterborough, New Hampshire made history by establishing the nation’s first genuinely free public library.
11. On September 19, 1961, Betty and Barney Hill of Portsmouth reported being abducted by extraterrestrials while driving on Route 3. Today, a gas station bathroom in Lincoln, adorned with articles about their story, serves as a memorial to the couple, and their Betty and Barney Hill archive is preserved at the University of New Hampshire.
12. In 1787, Concord-based clockmaker Levi Hutchins created America’s first alarm clock. Designed to ring at 4 a.m.—the time he needed to wake for work—it couldn’t be adjusted once set.
13. The first recorded serial killer in America, H.H. Holmes, was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, in 1861. After earning a medical degree from the University of Michigan, he funded his education by stealing corpses and using them to file fraudulent insurance claims. In Chicago, he converted a pharmacy into a so-called "murder castle," luring victims under the guise of a hotel. By the time of his execution in 1896, his victims numbered in the hundreds. Today, the unassuming house where he was born remains a point of interest in Gilmanton.
14. Since 2008, a quirky perennial presidential candidate named Vermin Supreme has appeared on the New Hampshire Primary ballot. Known for his signature boot headwear, his campaign focuses on a “pony economy” and preparing for a zombie apocalypse.
Marc Nozell via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0
15.
New Hampshire has been home to literary giants such as e.e. cummings, Willa Cather, Dan Brown, and Robert Frost.
16. In 1934, Mount Washington in New Hampshire recorded wind speeds of 231 miles per hour (Category 5 hurricanes require winds of at least 156 miles per hour). This held the global record for the fastest winds until the 1990s, when Barrow Island in Australia recorded 253 miles per hour. Despite losing the record, Mount Washington officials maintain that its combination of extreme wind, cold, snow, and freezing fog creates some of the planet’s harshest weather.
17. Theodor Geisel, a student at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, graduated in 1925. After being caught drinking on campus, he was barred from contributing to the school’s humor magazine, The Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern. To continue writing, he adopted the now-famous pseudonym “Seuss,” later adding “Dr.” to honor his father’s wish for him to become a professor.
18. In 1947, Earl Silas Tupper, a New Hampshire native, patented Tupperware's™ revolutionary air-tight "tupper seal."
19. New Hampshire’s state motto, “Live Free or Die,” was coined by General John Stark, a lifelong resident. A veteran of the French-Indian War and the Revolutionary War, Stark led the New Hampshire militia to victory at the Battle of Bennington in 1777. In 1809, he wrote a letter to fellow veterans that ended with the phrase: “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” The first half became the state motto in 1845, and it remains one of the most iconic mottos in the U.S., prominently displayed on New Hampshire license plates.
Stripey the crab via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 3.0
20.
Comedian George Carlin’s final request was to have his ashes spread over Spofford Lake, New Hampshire, the site of his childhood summer camp. It was here that he first showcased his comedic talent, earning the camp’s drama award annually. One year, the prize was a necklace featuring the classic comedy and tragedy masks, which Carlin cherished throughout his life and was wearing on the day he passed away.
21. In 1991, the entire community of Hill, New Hampshire was moved to make way for the construction of a dam.
23. Matthew Mitnitsky of Nonni’s Italian Eatery in Concord created a 222.5-pound meatball, setting the world record for the largest meatball and surpassing Jimmy Kimmel’s previous record by 23 pounds.
24. The 1995 movie Jumanji was shot in Keene, New Hampshire. Following the film’s completion, locals repainted the Parrish Shoes sign featured in the movie, which later became a tribute to Robin Williams after his passing in 2014.
25. Known as “America’s Stonehenge,” Mystery Hill features rock walls, unusual stone formations, and subterranean chambers nestled in the forests of Salem, New Hampshire. The site’s origins remain a puzzle, with theories ranging from ancient Native American astronomers to Irish monks or even 18th and 19th-century farmers whose activities have been misunderstood (a view supported by most archaeologists).
NikiSumblime via Flickr // CC BY 2.0
