About the Venue
New Hampshire International Speedway opened in 1990 and is a 1.058-mile oval track. It is commonly referred to by its location, Loudon. The two Nextel Cup Series races at NHIS are largest spectator sporting events in New England with 101,000 fans at each race. The speedway is located one hour from Boston, two hours from Portland, Maine, and Providence, R.I., and is easily accessible from Vermont and Canada.
The track also hosted open wheel racing for 7 years, hosting CART from 1992-1995, then the Indy Racing League from 1996-1998.
Unfortunately, the track is well known for being the site of a pair of fatal accidents of promising young drivers in 2000. In May, while practicing for a Busch Series race, Adam Petty perished when his throttle stuck in the middle of a turn. And when Winston Cup made their first appearance, a similar situation happened the 1998 Rookie of the Year Kenny Irwin, Jr.
Venue Pictures
City Guide
Concord, NH
A revitalized downtown Concord brims with historic buildings and statuary, and offers a variety of specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants. Even the alleys, squares and side streets are fun to explore. Handmade clocks, gourmet foods, books, music, clothing, antiques, crafts and mountain bikes are just a few examples of the variety of goods you’ll find. Downtown Concord schedules a number of special shopping events throughout the year, including Market Days in July and Midnight Merriment for the holidays.
Getting to Concord
Driving to Concord/Loudon
The Concord/Loudon area is centrally located close to several New England cities. Below is a list distances from nearby cities:
Albany, NY, 150 miles
Boston, MA, 75 miles
Denver, CO, 1,950 miles
Montreal, Quebec, 400 miles
New York, NY, 275 miles
Portland, ME, 110 miles
Providence, RI, 120 miles
Syracuse, NY, 290 miles
Airports
Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) (www.flymanchester.com) is situated in the heart of New England, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is less than 50 miles north of Boston, Massachusetts, and less than an hour's drive from the region's most popular ski areas, scenic seacoast beaches, and lakefront resorts. Manchester Boston Regional Airport is widely considered a convenient alternative airport serving the greater Boston area. 1 Airport Road, Manchester, NH 03101 ; 603-624-6556.
What to Do
White Mountain National Forest Headquarters
Nearby Laconia controls the purse-strings for Weirs Beach but isn't really worth a visit of its own except for a stop at the White Mountain National Forest Headquarters at 719 Main St (Mon -Fri 8-4.30pm; 603-528-8721), which has helpful maps and camping info. Belknap Mill here claims to be "the oldest unaltered brick textile mill building in the United States."
Christa McAuliffe Planetarium (www.starhop.com)
The State of New Hampshire built the Planetarium to honor Christa McAuliffe, a victim of the Challenger Shuttle tragedy and America's first Teacher in Space, and to continue her mission to motivate everyone to reach for the stars. Free telescope viewing is available at monthly SkyWatch events and Astronomy Day is celebrated each May. 3 Institute Drive, off the I-93, exit 15E, Concord, NH 03301. Tues-Sat 10-5pm, Sun 12-5pm, open until 10pm on Friday Skywatch nights; 603-271-7831.
Concord City Auditorium
This historic theater was built on the western side of City Hall in 1904 and recently restored. The theater includes an elegant lobby space with turn of the century stained glass windows and furnishings. "The Audi", as it is affectionately called, hosts over 100 events each season.
Anderson-Soule Gallery (www.anderson-soulegallery.com)
Anderson-Soule Gallery is a contemporary art gallery and consulting firm offering affordable, original artwork from some of today's finest emerging and established New England artists. In addition to Anderson-Soule's rich selection of artwork, the gallery also features fine furniture by New Hampshire Furniture Masters, unique rugs from Katharyn Alexandra Textile Art and handcrafted accessories. Tues, Wed, Sat, 10-4pm. Thurs, Fri 10-6pm. Two Capital Plaza, Concord, NH 03301; 603-228-3800.
Historic Downtown Concord Landmarks
New Hampshire State House
The New Hampshire State House, with its guilded dome, is the focal point of downtown Concord. Opened in 1819, the State House acted as a magnet, drawing businesses and residences to Main Street, thus creating the beginning of a true downtown area. Designed by architect Stuart Park, after whom Park Street is named, the building was initially only two stories high. It was built of local granite, quarried by prisoners housed at the nearby New Hampshire State Prison.
In 1866 the State House was remodeled with a mansard roof, enlarged dome, and granite portico, all financed by the City of Concord. In 1910 the third story and west wing were added. The present New Hampshire State House is the only state capitol whose legislature still sits in its original chambers. The State House Visitors Center is open year-round for guided and self-guided tours Mon-Fri 8-4:30pm; 603-271-2154.
Eagle Hotel
A downtown landmark for nearly 150 years, the Eagle Hotel hosted important gatherings and guests until it closed its doors in 1961. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford Hayes, and Benjamin Harrison all dined here, and New Hampshire's only president, Franklin Pierce, spent the night here before departing for his inauguration. Other well-known guests included Jefferson Davis, Charles Lindbergh, Eleanor Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and Thomas Dewey. Strategically located directly across from the State House, its name purportedly was derived from the eagle atop the State House dome. 110 North Main Street.
Isaac Hill House
Arched window openings, paired brackets, double entry doors with arched glass panels, and an interior elliptical staircase are among the notable features of this residence. Isaac A. Hill, who lived here between ca. 1870 and 1916, played a major role in the development of downtown Concord, 48 Pleasant Street.
Museum of New Hampshire History (www.nhhistory.org)
Be sure to stop at the Museum of New Hampshire History to learn about New Hampshire’s landscape, people, and traditions. From the world-famous Concord Coach - the stagecoach that won the American West - to superb l9th-century White Mountain paintings and rare examples of New Hampshire-made furniture, more than four centuries of Granite State history unfold in our award-winning exhibitions. Located at 6 Eagle Square, Concord, NH 03301; 603-226-3189. Tues-Sat, 9:30-5pm; Thurs, Fri evenings, 5-8:30 pm; Sun, 12-5 pm; Mon 9:30-5pm; July 1 through October 15.
Daytrips
Canterbury Shaker Village (www.shakers.org)
Fifteen miles north of Concord on Hwy-106, take a step back in time and experience 200 years of the Shaker way of life. Visit 24 original buildings situated on a rolling hilltop surrounded by open fields, woodlots and ponds. Watch crafts being made in the Shaker tradition including oval boxes, brooms, poplarware, and dovetailed totes. Open May-Oct daily 10am-5pm. Adults, $15; Seniors (age 65+), $13; Youth (ages 6-17), $7; Children (ages 5 & under), Free; Family (2 adults & 2 or more children, ages 6 to 17).
The Creamery Restaurant serves lunch daily, brunch Sunday, and candlelight dinner and Tour on Friday and Saturday. For more information call 603-783-9511.
Robert Frost Farm
South of Concord, outside Derry on Hwy-28, the Robert Frost Farm (summer daily 10-5pm; rest of year Sat & Sun 10-5pm; $3) has been evocatively restored to its condition when New England's poet laureate lived here from 1900 to 1911. Displays in the barn discuss his work, and a half-mile "poetry nature trail" leads past the sites that inspired many of his best-known poems.
Shopping
A revitalized downtown Concord brims with historic buildings and statuary, and offers a variety of specialty shops, cafes, and restaurants. Even the alleys, squares and side streets are fun to explore. Handmade clocks, gourmet foods, books, music, clothing, antiques, crafts and mountain bikes are just a few examples of the variety of goods you’ll find. Downtown Concord schedules a number of special shopping events throughout the year, including Market Days in July and Midnight Merriment for the holidays.
The Concord Heights business area continues to thrive with the addition of several chain stores on D'Amante Drive off Loudon Road, including Linens N' Things, Best Buy and Ninety-Nine Restaurant, Target, Home Depot, Michael's and Circuit City have both recently opened their doors in Concord. A little farther down Loudon Road, you will find Wal-Mart.
Marshall's discount store opened on Storrs Street, next to a newly renovated and refurbished Capitol Shopping Center in downtown Concord. The new facade will be reminiscent of the 19th-century train station that once graced the site.
Steeplegate Mall
The Steeplegate Mall at 270 Loudon Road features more than 70 stores, specialty carts and includes anchor stores JC Penney, Sears and The Bon-Ton and Old Navy. For information, 603-224-1523.
In addition to the mall, there are several shopping complexes adjacent to Concord’s downtown and a number of plazas, retail outlets and grocery, specialty and department stores along Loudon and Ft. Eddy Roads to the east of downtown.
