Rochester History Walk

Tour historic sites within Rochester, New Hampshire.

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Historic Markers

The City of Rochester is pleased to announce the addition of several informational signs marking historically significant sites in the downtown area.

Sites include City Hall/Opera House, Fire Station (now City Hall Annex), Post Office (now Rochester District Court), Cocheco River Bridge over North Main Street, Central Square and Parson Main Monument, and Rochester Public Library. Additionally, a sign for the Wyandotte Woolen Mill will be installed soon.

Each sign includes a vintage hand-painted postcard featuring an image of the landmark, a paragraph detailing the site’s significance to Rochester’s history, and a URL and QR code that lead readers to the City’s Virtual Historic Map.

Virtual Historic Map 

The Public Information Office, in collaboration with the Planning & Development Department, has cataloged and uploaded several hundred photos from the Rochester Historical Society into Google Earth. This project can be viewed on both desktop and mobile devices. The project was recognized in 2021 by the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance with a Preservation Achievement Award. The map serves as a digital catalog highlighting several hundred historic sites, with photos and details, throughout Rochester.

Get Started

Users are encouraged to navigate between the "pins" using the Table of Contents feature. Yellow pins indicate open spaces and streetscape views over the years. Blue pins denote structures that are still standing today, while red pins mark the sites of demolished structures. The photos have been meticulously cross-referenced with the Architectural Surveys by the Strafford Rockingham Regional Council from 1980 and the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps to ensure accuracy.

  • Click here to explore the map.
  • Mobile devices will prompt you to download the Google Earth app if you don't have it installed already. Google Earth is free and available on the iOS and Google app stores.

Preview

All photos are courtesy of the Rochester Historical Society.

preview

A Work in Progress

The historic map is an ongoing project, with new photos and text being added as more information is uncovered and compiled. Be sure to check back frequently for updates. If you have stories or photos of historic Rochester that you would like to contribute, please contact Matthew Wyatt at matthew.wyatt@rochesternh.gov.