franklin pierce homestead

Childhood home of President Franklin Pierce, historic for that reason and for his family; his father was governor of New Hampshire. The home is well preserved with vintage furniture; our docent did a very good job explaining Pierce and his childhood. This is a well preserved example of life in the first half of the 19th century. We visited this home and the Pierce Manse in Concord on the same day and enjoyed this one much more than the other home.

This is quite a bit more than just President Franklin Pierce's childhood home, this is a slice of regional history as his father, Benjamin, a governor and successful businessman in his own right was one of the wealthiest self-made men of means in the town. In its heyday the house - a tavern really - sat on a key section of the old turnpike, so traffic was heavy and business was good. The guides were top notch, and the architecture and artifacts are certainly the equal of comparable period historic houses in Portsmouth NH. Given the locale, I would say this is an ideal place to stop while driving through New Hampshire during foliage season.

The only US President from New Hampshire grew up here. Great spot to stop in on and visit and enjoyed by all ages except very little ones. Recommended for ages six and up. Guided tours except on Saturday, August 16th, 2014 when they are having self-guided tours and an open house as part of the 6th annual Living History Event NH. On the 16th or 17th visit with George Washington reenactor Dean Malissa who is Mount Vernon's exclusive portrayer of George Washington. For more information on visiting the Franklin Pierce Homestead go to visitnh.gov

I haven't been here in a while, but as a child I grew up here and went there often. It shows how life was like in a typical well to do household during Franklin Pierce's presidency. I always loved the kitchen.

Excellently done exhibit heralding one of our nations finest early leaders. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Great stop on a sojourn through beautiful and quaint New Hampshire. I especially liked the period White House plate wear. Afterword, go two more exits up to pick your own blueberries for the perfect relaxed day with kids or special quality time with a loved one.

My husband and I visited this many years ago but last week I went with my granddaughter and her friend. It's changed a lot. We were lucky enough to arrive right at "tour time" and spent an hour learning so much more about not only Franklin but about the Pierce family. Our tour guide knew so much and answered all the questions that we had. Very reasonable admission, check it out. We'll go back again, soon so my husband can see the improvements.

Thank you Sarah for doing a great job teaching us about the 14th president. So informative. Highly recommend this for the history lover. The home is so interesting and Sarah knows her stuff. She definitely gave me the perfect picture of what the days were like in the Pierce homestead years ago.

This is the home of the 14th President of the US. The homestead is filled with period furniture and clothing. Guides explain the life and times of this President. In addition on the 17th and 18th of August, there is a big historical event with people in period clothing and events acted out by the local people.

Another must for those who like presidential sites. I particularly enjoy when those giving the tours feel passionate about preserving the good name of their president, and that was the case here. You could tell that Sarah enjoys what she does and it was wonderful talking with her.

We enjoyed discovering the Franklin Pierce Homestead site. It was later in the afternoon and the actual building was closed. However, we looked around the property and enjoyed what we did see.

The Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough, NH provides a glimpse into both the former President Franklin Pierce and his father Benjamin Pierce who actually built and owned the home. The home is located along a major road, which happens to be historically accurate. The hours vary depending on the season. When it is not the high season (summer) the home is only open on the weekends so make sure to plan accordingly. There is a cost to visit. For non-sate residents it is $5 which is very reasonable. For state residents under the age of 64 it is $4 and free for those above the age of 64 only. Kids for state residents are free. Active duty military are free as the Homestead participates in the blue Star Program. I didn't know that until later and was offered a refund, but declined as they could use a donation.You can take a tour with Sara or one of the other docents or walk through on your own. However I would recommend taking a tour as you will learn a lot more. Sara provided a very detailed account of the Pierce's lives and the history of the home. She didn't sugarcoat anything, providing both favorable and unfavorable accounts. Franklin Pierce only lived here leading up to his presidency and much of the interesting history is of his father Benjamin and his wife. Most of the items in the home are from the original home, with a few other period pieces brought in to decorate the home. They've taken great lengths to refurbish the walls to their original design. They've left a couple of spots to show you what it looked like compared to the exact copy.You should plan on spending at least an hour at the Franklin Pierce Homestead. The home is two stories with no elevator that I saw, although handicapped personnel unable to climb stairs will be able to see the first floor. There is no photography allowed inside, but you can take as many pictures of the outside. They have a bathroom for your use as well and a small gift store.I would highly recommend visiting the Homestead. It provides a glimpse into one of the American Presidents not that well known whose history is as troubled as the times when he served. He was a close friend of Jefferson Davis and suffered for it. Make sure to read his letter to Davis in the small museum prior to entering the home.

We recently spent an early fall Sunday afternoon here. What a great experience! I have visited a number of similarly historic sites, but this one was made memorable by our tour guide/docent, Sara. Her true interest in the Pierces and in historical accuracy (not to mention the stories that really make history come alive) shone through every intelligent sentence. The house itself is remarkable, too, and the stenciling on the walls alone makes the trip worthwhile. The area itself is worth the trip, especially in this early time of leaves turning. Afterwards, we stopped at a new "farmer's market" on the corner right near the house and poked around the lovely organic foods, jams, soaps etc. This business just opened in August, but I have no doubt it will be a hit. A great day!

Hillsborough is a town that shows a lot of history and this homestead shows some of the revolutionary and early 19th century aspects. The reconstruction has been careful, so the wall stenciling was carefully researched to find the exact pigments, etc. The stories of Franklin Pierce and his father Benjamin are a great window onto revolutionary and pre-Civil War life. The guides are knowledgeable and enthusiastic. While in the town, visit the other village centers, especially Hillsborough Center and drive past Gleason Falls over the special stone bridges. Stop at German Jacks for good German bread.

This is a first class display of history and very educational. Was a little disappointed that you could not photograph, even without flash while inside.

Its nice. Its pretty well taken care of. There are special events in the summer. Kind of what you'd expect...on a small scale. Understated....kind of like Pierce.