Hike To A Deserted Village In New Hampshire

Many of New Hampshire’s towns and villages have survived to this day despite conflict, disaster, and other struggles. Others have been dissolved as municipal entities or have been lost altogether. This well-preserved uninhabited village in Milford and Hollis is protected forever so visitors may experience what life might have been like in the 18th century.

Monson Center in Milford/Hollis is one of the most significant archeological sites in the northeastern U.S. The remnants of this former village date back to the 1700s and are preserved in remarkable condition.

Dating back to 1737, this early colonial settlement was in existence until 1770, and was originally part of Massachusetts at that time. The village spanned over 17,000 acres in size.

Visitors today can walk the very same roads used by Monson's residents. Along the way, you'll see cellar holes, homesteads, and the town pound where runaway cattle were retrieved by their owners.

Each step through Monson carries you further from the present and into the past. By walking the old roads, you can truly grasp what living in a village like this at that point in time was like.

The last remaining standing structure is an old colonial house that has been restored and now serves as an educational center.

While the inhabitants of Monson may be long gone, there is still plenty of life here. In addition to looking around, don't forget to look down as you walk.

Monson Center is open year-round for hiking and exploration. More information, parking details, and a property map are available on the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests website.

If you’re looking for more unusual stuff around New Hampshire, there’s a covered bridge in Campton that’s thought to be cursed, a haunted hotel in Portsmouth, and a theatre in Laconia where the ghosts may be keeping themselves entertained.

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Monson Center, Federal Hill Rd, Hollis, NH 03049, USA

The Spooky New Hampshire Hike That Will Lead You Somewhere Deserted

Ken MacGray

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