6 Moments Everyone Born In New Hampshire Will Always Remember

New Hampshire has a long and storied past going back to its acceptance as a state in 1788. Since then, the state has seen its share of historic events and happenings. If you were born and raised here, you've lived through some of these moments.

1. Christa McAuliffe And The Challenger Explosion.

Christa McAuliffe, the first private civilian in space and Concord High School teacher, perishes in the Challenger disaster on January 28, 1986. The ill-fated space shuttle exploded only 73 seconds after liftoff off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Her resting place can be visited at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord.

2. Alan Shepard Travels Into Space.

In another New Hampshire first for America's space program, Alan Shepard was the first American to travel into space in 1961. Born and raised in Derry, Shepard is also well-known for his historic golf swing. While a member of the Apollo 14 crew, he hit two golf balls while on the moon. Shepard claims the balls traveled "miles and miles and miles" across the lunar surface.

3. The Fall Of The Old Man.

The Old Man of the Mountain was a great stone profile that stood for centuries atop a cliff on Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch State Park. Despite years of attempts to secure the ledges via turnbuckles, nature and erosion took its toll and the face fell from the cliffside on May 3, 2003. The Old Man may be gone now, but his spirit lives on.

4. 'On Golden Pond' Films In The Lakes Region.

The 1981 film, On Golden Pond, stars an all-star ensemble cast featuring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda (in his final theatrical film), and his daughter Jane Fonda The setting of the film is the fictional Golden Pond, but filming took place on Squam Lake in the town of Holderness.

5. The Segway Makes Its Debut.

This two-wheeled, self-balancing personal transporter, looking like a scooter on steroids, is unveiled on December 3, 2001. Inventor Dean Kamen, who lives in Manchester, came up with the concept for the device and it was mostly manufactured here in the Granite State.

6. New Hampshire Motor Speedway Starts Up.

Originally named New Hampshire International Speedway when it opened in the town of Loudon in June 1990, this recreation complex became the largest in New England. Today, the track currently hosts major NASCAR events and attracts some 500,000 motorsports fans each year.

If you are a native New Hampshire resident, what are some other moments in the state's history that we should know about? Drop them in the comments!