During a stay in Boscawen, you can choose between historical landmarks and outdoor activities. The Hannah Duston Memorial is distinguished by its date and its location at the confluence of two rivers; the local museum is housed in a schoolhouse with its own history. For outdoor recreation, there are the Boscawen Village Town Forest, the Northern Rail Trail, and summer paddling on Walker Pond. These different themes give you several ways to tailor your trip to your interests.

Memorial and museum: two historical landmarks

The Hannah Duston Memorial was erected in 1874. It is the first publicly funded statue in New Hampshire and is located on a small island at the confluence of the Contoocook River and the Merrimack River. For travelers interested in history, the memorial combines a specific year of construction with a precisely identified waterside location.

Another historic address is the Boscawen Historical Society Museum at 226 King Street. It is housed in the Boscawen Academy schoolhouse, which was built in 1827. The dates refer to different things: 1827 dates the schoolhouse, while 1874 marks the erection of the memorial. This gives you a choice between two distinct cultural landmarks: a publicly funded monument by the river and a museum in a schoolhouse with a known date.

Forest and trail: different ways to find your way

The Boscawen Village Town Forest is accessible from several locations. One starting point with parking is right on Route 3, also known as Main Street. When planning your visit, you can consider both the multiple access points and this specifically located starting point. If you want to use a parking area as a landmark, this access point is a practical option without reducing the forest to a single location.

The Northern Rail Trail runs through Boscawen and stretches 57 miles from Boscawen to Lebanon, New Hampshire. In spring, summer, and fall, the trail can be used for walking and jogging. The total length describes the entire route between its endpoints. This also makes for a different kind of orientation when choosing between the forest and the trail: for the Town Forest, the multiple access points matter; for the Rail Trail, the endpoints, length, and seasonal use are key.

Walker Pond and seasonal options

Walker Pond is accessible via Chadwick Hill Road from Water Street. Parking is available at the old pump house and at the boat ramp. In summer, you can paddle there by canoe or kayak. The access road and the two parking options give you specific guidance for getting there; paddling is a distinct summer activity.

The seasons offer a useful comparison for planning your trip: in spring and fall, you can use the Northern Rail Trail for walking and jogging; in summer, paddling on Walker Pond is another outdoor option. Since the trail can also be used for walking and jogging in summer, this season offers both activities as possible focal points.

Discover more destinations: Loudon, Bow, Warner, Bradford, Hooksett, Wilmot, Sutton, Newbury

For the county-level travel overview: Merrimack County.