From Trails to RailsFrom Trails to Rails

Transportation in New HampshireTransportation in New Hampshire

(and Roads and Runways)(and Roads and Runways)

New Hampshire often has played an New Hampshire often has played an important role in the history of important role in the history of transportationtransportation..

Can you identify New Hampshire’s Can you identify New Hampshire’s connection to each of the following four connection to each of the following four landmark changes in transportation? landmark changes in transportation?

Studying changes in the Studying changes in the way people move from one way people move from one place to another can help us place to another can help us understand much about our understand much about our society.society.

To prepare for a study of transportation in New To prepare for a study of transportation in New Hampshire, think about …Hampshire, think about …

how changes in the how changes in the ways people move ways people move around have affected around have affected our state.our state.

The way that people make a living is often The way that people make a living is often determined by how they travel.determined by how they travel.

How many jobs in your How many jobs in your community can you community can you associate with the fact associate with the fact that today people travel that today people travel by automobile?by automobile?

What impact have What impact have different forms of different forms of transportation had on transportation had on our environment?our environment?

New England’s New England’s Woodland Tribes Woodland Tribes traveled on foot traveled on foot or by canoe.or by canoe.

Beginning in the 1600s, European settlers brought Beginning in the 1600s, European settlers brought with them new forms of transportation.with them new forms of transportation.

Domesticated Domesticated animals like horses animals like horses and oxen transported and oxen transported goods overland to goods overland to market.market.

……and specialized ships and specialized ships called gundalows called gundalows traveled rivers too traveled rivers too shallow for ships, shallow for ships, carrying goods for carrying goods for import and export.import and export.

From the mid 1700s through the early 1800s, towns From the mid 1700s through the early 1800s, towns away from the major waterways developed rapidly.away from the major waterways developed rapidly.

Roads were necessary Roads were necessary to connect these towns to connect these towns to markets and to each to markets and to each other.other.

Abbot and Downing’s Abbot and Downing’s Concord Coach made it Concord Coach made it possible for horses to possible for horses to carry heavier loads and carry heavier loads and for people to travel for people to travel more comfortably.more comfortably.

And railroads made distant markets available And railroads made distant markets available to people throughout our state.to people throughout our state.

The next time you travel in New Hampshire, use a map The next time you travel in New Hampshire, use a map of the state to answer these questions:of the state to answer these questions:

• How long might it How long might it have taken people in have taken people in the mid 1800s to reach the mid 1800s to reach your destination?your destination?

• What means of travel What means of travel would they have used?would they have used?

• What means of travel What means of travel would the Abenaki have would the Abenaki have used to make the same used to make the same trip in the 1500s? trip in the 1500s?

• How long might it have How long might it have taken them?taken them?

On the day of your trip, check out the routes you On the day of your trip, check out the routes you travel and the length of time it takes you to get here.travel and the length of time it takes you to get here.

• How much faster was your trip than that of the How much faster was your trip than that of the Indians and the people of the 1800s?Indians and the people of the 1800s?

• How different was the route you took from that How different was the route you took from that which they would have taken?which they would have taken?

• Could you still travel there using the means of Could you still travel there using the means of travel and the routes taken by these earlier people?travel and the routes taken by these earlier people?

Make your next trip a visit to the New Make your next trip a visit to the New Hampshire Historical Society Museum!Hampshire Historical Society Museum!

We hope to see you soon!We hope to see you soon!

© 2008 Christopher MacLeod for the © 2008 Christopher MacLeod for the New Hampshire Historical SocietyNew Hampshire Historical Society