New Hampshire is rich in history, thanks to its rural agricultural and industrial beginnings. While much of the state's past can be learned by visiting museums, there are other locations where you can immerse yourself in the very spots where the history actually happened, as if you were stepping back in time. All it takes is some basic hiking gear and an urge to explore.

Red Hill Trail, Red Hill (Moultonborough)

Red Hill Trail climbs 1.7 miles and 1,350 ft. to the summit of Red Hill (2,031 ft.). At the top is one of 15 active fire towers in New Hampshire. This historic tower is the first and only one to be located here and has been in service since 1927. It is staffed during times of high fire danger.

Hikers can climb the tower (except in winter) to a point just under the cab. Here, there are panoramic views in all directions of New Hampshire's Lakes Region, the White Mountains to the north, and Maine to the east. More information and a trail map is available at the Lakes Region Conservation Trust website.

Chippewa Trail, Black Mountain (Haverhill/Benton)

Located only a short distance off Chippewa Trail at the base of Black Mountain, two dormant lime kilns harken back to the discovery of limestone in this area in 1837. Both kilns heated mined limestone into powdered lime for use in agricultural and other products until 1888. The structures are currently on private land, but the public is welcome to visit. More information is available on the Town of Haverhill, New Hampshire website.

Hikers who continue along Chippewa Trail will arrive at the ledgy summit of Black Mountain, which affords excellent views in most directions. This peak also bore a series of fire lookouts, the last of which was dismantled in 1978. Eagle-eyed hikers can still see iron artifacts in the ledges. Chippewa Trail is a short but steep 1.8 mi. with 1,550 ft. of climbing. The trailhead and parking are located on Lime Kiln Road in Haverhill.

Rail And River Trail (Albany)

This is a half-mile interpretive trail off the Kancamagus Highway that provides visitors insight into the history of logging and railroading in this region during the 19th century. The trail begins behind the Russell-Colbath House. It was built in 1832 and remains as the last original structure from the former town of Passaconaway. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A small cemetery adjacent to the house contains the final resting places for several members of the Russell family, who were very early settlers in the Swift River valley.

Burrows Farm Trail, Moose Mountains Reservation (Brookfield/Middleton)

Burrows Farm Trail, which lies with The Society For The Protection Of New Hampshire Forests' Moose Mountains Reservation, winds its way through open fields that were once farmed 200 years ago. Today, hikers can walk these fields to imagine what rural New Hampshire life was like then.

The open fields along Burrows Farm Trail also offer pleasant views of the surrounding hills and countryside. Altogether, there are over eight miles of trails to explore within the reservation. For more information and a trail map, visit the SPNHF website for Moose Mountains Reservation.

If you are a fan of history and hiking, we are sure these walks into the past will interest you. For more looks at New Hampshire's past, also check out the The Robert Frost Historic Site in Derry and Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center in Laconia.