Historic Barns Worth Visiting On The New Hampshire Barn Trail

Looking for a fun way to get the family out exploring New Hampshire? There’s a new trail that could have you learning a little history, discovering beautiful corners of the Granite State and taking some seriously gorgeous family photos along the way!

Ever since I was a little girl, my mom has been a real estate agent, so I grew up wandering through all kinds of homes. But the ones that always captured my heart were the older houses- the ones with beautiful crown molding, unique built-ins, creaky floors and little details that felt like they had a story to tell.

I think I’ve always been drawn to the feeling that comes with an old home... the idea that generations of families have laughed, celebrated, grown up and made memories within those walls. There’s just something incredibly special about a place that carries a little piece of history with it.

The Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm via Facebook

And that’s exactly what makes the New Hampshire Barn Trail so special.

The trail was created with the goal of showcasing barns that tell the story of New Hampshire’s rural heritage.

According to the New Hampshire Farm Museum, the Barn Trail highlights barns that are “historic, well preserved and architecturally significant.” The museum is one of the stops along the trail, located in Milton.

"The New Hampshire Farm Museum is proud to partner with the University of New Hampshire in the creation of the Barn Trail" they said in a recent social media post.

And this is more than just a collection of pretty old buildings. UNH Extension says visiting the barns is a way to experience the “landscapes and traditions that have shaped rural life” in New Hampshire.

Many of the stops offer museums, farm stands, walking paths and seasonal activities, so you can turn your visit into a whole family outing.

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests said in a social media post, "We received our 'NH Barn Trail' sign, delivered by the one and only John Porter, NH barn enthusiast, NH Humanities to Go speaker (The History of Agriculture as Told by Barns), UNH Cooperative Extension Professor/Specialist, Emeritus, and co-author of Preserving Old Barns. Nice to see you again, and thank you, John! Here at The Rocks NH you can wander our Gozzo Trail and walk past the historic Sawmill/Pig Pen Barn and visit our exhibitor center in the restored Carriage Barn."

Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests via Facebook

There are stops across several regions of the state, too- from the White Mountains and Lakes Region to the Seacoast and Merrimack Valley. Some are working farms, some are museums, and others have been beautifully repurposed while preserving their historic character.

And let's be honest: those classic red barns, fields and mountain views make for a pretty unbeatable backdrop for a family photo!

So, pick a barn (or a few) and make a day of exploring New Hampshire history. You can find the complete Barn Trail, including a free interactive map and information about each location, through UNH Extension’s New Hampshire Barn Trail.