Once the colonial capital of New Hampshire, Exeter is now famous for the Phillips Exeter Academy.
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LOCATION - Exeter is in Rockingham County. To get to Exeter, you have to take I-95 to get to Exit 2, than you take 101 West to Route 108 South and keep going that way for 11/2 miles into the town of Exeter.
GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES - The fresh water from Exeter River flows into the salt water from the Squamscott River. The falls in the Exeter River keep boats away from this area. Exeter has a network of hiking and bicycle trails. The town provides a time for joggers and bikers to trek through them.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS - The Gilman Garrison House was built in the 1680's. It has hand-hewed beams. Some of the things on display there are Daniel Webster's desk and Ebenezer Clifford's diving bell. The Ioka Theater was built in 1915 by Mayer. You can watch classic films and live entertainment there. The American Independence Museum has the original Declaration of Independence. The museum was built in 1721. The Mose Kent House was built in 1868. The museum rooms have some original furnishings from 1903. Every year during the third week of July, Exeter celebrates with its Revolutionary War Festival.
POPULATION - The population of Exeter grew from 1995-1996 to 13,258 people.
BUSINESSES - The Exeter Hospital provides health care for the city. The Phillips Exeter Academy was started in 1781 and is one of the most famous prep schools in the United States. Tycolabs, Inc. makes fire protection equipment. Hewlett Packard makes computers.
HISTORY - Exeter was founded in 1638 by John Wheelwright. He was a minister who left Massachusetts because the Puritans were arguing about religion.
Exeter was the state capital of New Hampshire during the Revolutionary War. The Ladd-Gilman House was built in the early 1700's. This house was the location of the State Treasury during the American Revolution. John Taylor Gilman lived in this house as governor of New Hampshire. He was elected to office fourteen times until 1816. This house became one of the nation's first historic houses opened to the public. The Gilman Garrison was designed to protect John Gilman's sawmills at the nearby Squamscott River.
In 1789, George Washington ate breakfast in Exeter while he was on his Presidential Tour of New England.
Email me Last Edited 6/1/98 Back to Cities and Towns
