Historic Merrimack, New Hampshire
Located in the town of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Merrimack is a community of 26,632 people. It was founded in 1793, making it the third oldest town in the state. The town has a number of historic landmarks, including the covered bridge, the Rock’N Ribfest and the McGaw Normal Institute.
McGaw Normal Institute
Founded in 1879, McGaw Normal Institute is a boarding and day school located in Reeds Ferry, New Hampshire. The school was named for Robert McGaw, who was a major benefactor of the school. Many graduates from the school went on to pursue higher education.
Merrimack, New Hampshire was first incorporated in 1746. At the time, it was part of the Dunstable grant. The town was originally a group of four villages, which were named after the ferries between Merrimack and Litchfield. Each village had its own stores, post office, and social life.
Merrimack also developed its first middle school, a town hall, a police department, and a library. The town expanded its boundaries by three miles in 1750. In addition, a police station was added, and Route 3 was built.
Rock’N Ribfest
Taking place on July 4th, Rock’N Ribfest is a family-friendly event. The four day event includes live music, entertainment, carnival games, kids activities, and food from the best barbeques from around the country. Located at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Merrimack, New Hampshire, Rock’N Ribfest is slated to draw well over 15,000 people over the four days.
Fortunately, the event is free to attend. The festivities kick off with a 4th of July parade, followed by a concert, fireworks display, and a fireworks display of the day. The event will run from 11 am to 7 pm. The festivities will include the requisite alcoholic beverages, but will also include an impressive assortment of food, craft beer, and fun & games. In fact, there are enough activities to keep even the pickiest of eaters busy for the whole weekend.
Horse Hill Nature Preserve
Located in the heart of Merrimack, the Horse Hill Nature Preserve is one of the town’s largest preserved open space properties. The 563-acre Preserve is a mixture of hardwoods, shrubs and wetlands. The property is listed as one of the top priorities for conservation in the 2002 Master Plan for the town of Merrimack.
The Preserve is a great place to take your family for a nature walk, horseback ride or picnic. The loop trail is easy to follow and is well marked. The shortest section is also accessible for those with physical disabilities.
The horse-shaped kiosk at the entrance to the Preserve is a great place to pick up trail maps and brochures. There are also two hand-dug stone lined wells on the property.
Covered bridge
Several covered bridges are found in Merrimack, New Hampshire. These bridges are unique and represent a bygone era when wood was used for transportation. These bridges are a favorite among photographers and New England tourists.
The oldest covered bridge in New Hampshire is the Ammonoosuc River Bridge. It was built in 1840. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This bridge carries Route 135 across the Ammonoosuc River.
Another bridge in Merrimack, New Hampshire is the Stowell Road Covered Bridge. This bridge is located on Stowell Road in Merrimack, New Hampshire and spans Baboosic Brook. It is a little-known bridge, but it provides a wonderful riverside view.
The House of Matthew Thornton is located across from Thornton’s Ferry Cemetery in Merrimack, New Hampshire. It was the home of Matthew Thornton, a New Hampshire signer of the Declaration of Independence. It later became a restaurant.
