Day: September 10, 2018

Major General John Sullivan Historic Site – Durham, New Hampshire

Historic Markers, Historic Sites, New England, New Hampshire, North America, United States

On December 14, 1774 patriots from Portsmouth, New Hampshire stormed Fort William and Mary (aka Fort Constitution)in New Castle, New Hampshire and seized the garrisons gunpowder.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos
New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The gunpowder was taken to Durham, New Hampshire where it was buried under the floor of the meeting house located at the location where this marker to Major General John Sullivan stands today.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

A memorial to Sullivan and his home are adjacent to the marker.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

Sullivan served under Washington from Cambridge to Valley Forge, commanded at Rhode Island in 1778 and led the Campaign against the Six Nations in New York in 1779. After the war he was a three times governor of New Hampshire. Both the marker and the Sullivan House are located in the Durham Historic District.

Site of Piscataqua Bridge Historical Marker – Durham, New Hampshire

Historic Markers, New England, New Hampshire, North America, United States

This historical marker commemorates the site of the original Piscataqua River Bridge built in 1794.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

At 244 feet this was the longest span bridge in the United States when it opened. Timothy Palmer was the engineer / bridge builder who designed and built the bridge. Palmer was a pioneer in long span wooden truss bridge design and had already constructed several bridges in Massachusetts. The bridge was essential in establishing the first NH turnpike a land route between Portsmouth and Boston. This was an important bridge in early American bridge design and construction.