Rochester Enhances Downtown with Historical Signage

Photo byCity of Rochester

ROCHESTER, N.H. – The City of Rochester has recently unveiled new informational signs at key historical sites throughout the downtown area, enriching the community’s connection to its past and enhancing the educational landscape for residents and visitors alike.

The new signs have been installed at several pivotal locations, including City Hall/Opera House, the Fire Station (now City Hall Annex), the Post Office (which now serves as the Rochester District Court), the Cocheco River Bridge over North Main Street, Central Square, the Parson Main Monument, and the Rochester Public Library. Plans are also underway to install an additional sign at the site of the former Wyandotte Woolen Mill.

Each sign features a vintage hand-painted postcard image of the landmark, accompanied by a descriptive paragraph detailing the site’s historical significance. To enhance accessibility and engagement, each sign also includes a URL and a QR code directing to the City’s Virtual Historic Map. This innovative digital tool, which won a Preservation Achievement Award from the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance in 2021, offers a comprehensive catalog of several hundred historic sites in downtown Rochester, complete with photographs and detailed narratives.

While there is potential for the addition of more signs in the future, city staff have indicated that there are no immediate plans to expand the project. The initiative has been made possible through a collaboration with the Rochester Historical Society & Museum, which provided all images and historical information for the signage and the Virtual Historic Map.

For those interested in learning more about Rochester’s rich history, or to explore the Virtual Historic Map, visit www.rochesternh.gov/history.