Walking With Henry

Hooksett's Pinnacle Has a Famous History

Our friend and New Hampshire historian Mike Dickerman posted the above historic postcard the other day and it brought back memories of one of my favorite hikes with Little Bean. During the pandemic, with me out of a job and her home all day, we were desperate for short hikes nearby and I’d always wanted to spend some time walking in the footsteps of Thoreau so Hooksett’s Pinnacle Park did the trick.

The tower is long gone, torn down in 1923 along with the carnival park that sat at the base of the big rock, but a beautiful small park remains with easy hiking trails offering visitors decent views.

We didn’t see a single soul all day.

When Pinnacle Park was operating as an attraction at the turn of the last century, for a mere 10 cent admission, visitors could wander the fifty acre park and experience a natural history exhibit, electric lights and swing chairs, and a pavilion with a floor for dancing.

A trolley or steam car could take visitors from Manchester or Concord nearly right to the park where they - like we did one hundred years later - could climb up to 490 feet above the Merrimack River to enjoy the views. Back then, there were no trees to obstruct what Thoreau himself called “a scene of rare beauty and completeness, which the traveler should take pains to behold."

But it was no pains for my little one as we scaled the Pinnacle easily. That was a gift for us amid a terrible time, holding her hand as we walked in Henry's steps

Interested in taking the family to The Pinnacle? Here’s a link to a lovely family friendly hiking site that will give you all the info you need. Have fun! Pinnacle Park Hooksett