Ashland: Local History, Railroad and Covered Bridge

Ashland is nestled in the Lakes Region. The Pemigewasset River forms the town’s western boundary, and Little Squam Lake lies to the east. The town also offers several cultural attractions with different areas of focus: a house with exhibits on local history, a toy museum, and a former railroad station now used as a museum. The Squam River Covered Bridge is another notable feature of the town. You can explore Ashland’s landscape, history or railroad heritage as you decide what to include in your trip.

Local History in Two Houses

The Whipple House Museum is at 14 Pleasant Street in Ashland village, off Main Street (Routes 3 and 25). The house was built in 1837. Its exhibits focus on the life of Dr. Whipple and local history. The museum thus connects the story of an individual with the development of the local area. If these topics interest you, it offers a specific cultural focus for your stay in Ashland.

The Glidden Toy Museum is right next door to the Whipple House Museum, in the same village. It is housed in a Cape-style house dating to around 1810. The two museums differ both in subject matter and in the histories of their buildings: the Whipple House focuses on Dr. Whipple and local history, while the name Glidden Toy Museum points to its focus on toys. The dates 1837 and around 1810 refer to different houses. When planning your trip, you can explore these two distinct aspects of local history without conflating them as a single exhibition.

Railroad History and Tours

The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is at 69 Depot Street on Route 132, also in Ashland village. The station was restored from 1997 to 1998 so that it could be used as a railroad museum and meeting place. A collection of railroad artifacts, photographs and documents is growing there. These different items bring several tangible dimensions to the railroad theme: objects, visual impressions and written records all play a part.

The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad is also connected with the station: during its popular Fall Foliage Tours, it regularly stops at Ashland Station. If you see railroad history and a train tour as distinct travel interests, Ashland offers a specific connection to both. The stop is part of the tours mentioned here; the local museum collection, in turn, tells the story of railroad artifacts, photographs and documents.

A Bridge with Distinctive Architecture

The Squam River Covered Bridge is on River Street in Ashland and spans Little Squam Lake and the Squam River. Its design echoes the traditional style of covered bridges. It was officially dedicated on July 1, 1990. For exploring Ashland’s townscape, it offers a different perspective from the museums: here, the focus is on a specific structure, its design and its dedication date. Its name also refers to the waters it spans.

Choosing Ashland as a Destination

When choosing a vacation rental in Ashland, you can start by asking which of these features you want to shape your stay: local history and historic houses, the railroad collection and tours, or the Covered Bridge. The locations include Pleasant Street, Depot Street and River Street; for the museums in Ashland village, the relevant streets and routes are also specified. The town’s location in the Lakes Region, bounded by a river and a lake, adds a connection to the landscape to these cultural themes. This lets you assess Ashland based on specific interests without treating its different attractions and stories as one and the same.

Nearby Places

Plymouth, Sugar Hill, Hanover, Bethlehem, Thornton, Campton, Lyme, Lincoln

For the broader travel overview: Grafton.