Historic Homes and Sites

You will literally be riding through history when you journey up Mt. Washington on the famous Cog Railway, the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world and the only one currently operating in North America. Now in its 152nd year, the railway not only features amazing views as you travel through three climate zones, but it also begins and ends at museums and learning centers. At the base station, the Cog Railway Museum shows how the railroad, the second steepest in the world, was built. At the summit, there’s a visitor center, observation deck and interactive weather exhibit. Next door is the Tip Top House, an original summit hotel built in 1853, where railroad founder Sylvester Marsh hunkered down in an 1857 storm. Trains run late April through November.

Located in a church built in 1869, this museum features a look at the history of the town of Jefferson and the surrounding area. Of particular interest is the focus on the Waumbek Hotel, an important structure in Jefferson's history.
Season: June-Columbus Day.
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission: Free.

This is the residence of Conway mill owner, William Kimball Eastman. Built in 1818, the house's 17 rooms are open to the public and are furnished in periods from 1818 through 1945. Eastman Lord House Museum has recently been named to the National Register of Historic Places.
Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
Hours: Wednesday, 2-4 p.m.; Thursday, 6-8 p.m.
Cost: $3 per person; $6 per family.
Information: http://bit.ly/11dRVXF

The former home and farmer of famed poet Robert Frost, this museum offers exhibits about his life and works. Poetry readings are scheduled throughout the season, and there is a nature trail available.
Hours: Memorial Day-July 2, Saturdays and Sundays, 1–5 p.m.; July 3-October 8, daily except Tuesdays, 1–5 p.m.
Admission: Adults, $4, seniors, $3, students age 6–18, $2.
Information: www.frostplace.org.