May 22: Concord

After Montpelier, we were off on our 120 mile drive to Concord, NH. We stopped along the way in Stockbridge, where James Taylor wrote a song about.

There is an arch, the "Memorial Arch," outside, that honors NH soldiers and sailors. Once inside, you are greeted by a large statue of the 14th President and noted NH resident, Franklin Pierce.

Concord was a pleasant town, the capitol in the center of the State House Plaza, said to be the country's oldest statehouse, constructed in 1819 of Concord granite and Vermont marble. The architecture seemed to be quite simple, very down-to-earth, with walls painted white and white marble floors. Not too much art, but some paintings of governors and other well-known NH residents.

The House chamber was a little different in that they had theatre chairs without desks. In this chamber were paintings of Lincoln, Washington, Pierce and Webster. We couldn't go up into the dome because in order to, said the security gaurd, you would have to walk along the attic with pigeons. There is no rotundo under the dome to look up into.

On the way out, we stopped by a friendly cigar shop and John bought one to celebrate being on vacation. The clerk cooly responded, "excellent," after hearing of our ventures.