Atkinson

This unassuming elementary school is actually the oldest standing co-educational school building in the United States, built in 1803 after fire destroyed the original 1787 structure. The custodian still rings the original bell each morning, and the building houses period architectural details like gunstock beams and pegged timbers. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, yet most visitors drive right past it on Academy Avenue.

Hidden in plain sight at 3 Academy Avenue, this 1770s-1780s house served as Reverend Stephen Peabody's parsonage before becoming the town library and now houses the Atkinson Historical Society. The building retains original gunstock beams, Christian doors, and hand-hewn timbers in its granite and brick cellar. Most visitors mistake it for a private residence, but locals know it contains fascinating collections including a military room honoring town veterans and a Grange display featuring the original painted stage curtain from the demolished Grange Hall.

While many know Woodlock Park for its sports fields, locals treasure the lesser-known 1.4-mile trail system that loops through wooded highlands behind the recreation area. The trail offers peaceful views of Hovey Meadow Pond and passes by 'Meeting Rock,' with colonial stone walls threading through the forest. It's a quiet escape that most visitors miss entirely, focusing only on the baseball diamonds and soccer fields.

This small town common holds special significance as the endpoint of Atkinson's annual Memorial Day parade, where locals gather around the Soldier's Monument to honor veterans. Named after George Dow, a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient, it's where the community comes together each December for the Christmas tree lighting. Most visitors see just a patch of grass, but locals know it as the heart of the town's civic life.