Ashland: Museums, Railroad History and Covered Bridge

Ashland brings together several historic points of interest: museums in Ashland village, a railroad station that serves as a museum, and a Covered Bridge built to reflect the traditional style. The town is also located in the Lakes Region and has geographic ties to the Pemigewasset River and Little Squam Lake. Local history, railroad themes, and the landscape offer different starting points for planning your trip.

Places and Getting Oriented

The Whipple House Museum is located at 14 Pleasant Street in Ashland village, off Main Street (Routes 3 and 25). The Glidden Toy Museum is next to the Whipple House Museum, also in Ashland village. The Ashland Railroad Station Museum is at 69 Depot Street on Route 132, likewise in the village. The addresses distinguish the two neighboring museums from the station museum on Depot Street.

River, Lake, and Region

Ashland is bordered by the Pemigewasset River to the west and Little Squam Lake to the east. The two bodies of water mark opposite sides of the town, while Ashland’s location in the Lakes Region adds a broader regional context. If you include the landscape in your trip planning, the west-to-east orientation helps distinguish the river and lake settings.

Museums and Railroad History

The Whipple House was built in 1837. Its exhibits cover the life of Dr. Whipple and local history, linking a biography with a look at Ashland’s past. Next door, the Glidden Toy Museum is housed in a Cape-style house dating to around 1810. The neighboring museums can also be compared by age: the Glidden Toy Museum building is from an earlier period than the Whipple House, built in 1837.

Railroad history also has its own point of interest in Ashland. The Ashland Railroad Station was restored from 1997 to 1998 for use as a railroad museum and meeting place. The building houses a growing collection of railroad artifacts, images, and documents. These different elements bring together physical, visual, and written records related to railroads.

Another railroad connection is the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, which regularly stops at Ashland Station during its popular Fall Foliage Tours. The stop is a seasonal consideration when planning a trip around these tours. If you’d like to plan for one, check the dates of the Fall Foliage Tours.

Covered Bridge and Your Stay

The Squam River Covered Bridge is on River Street in Ashland and spans Little Squam Lake and the Squam River. Its design reflects the traditional style of covered bridges; it was officially dedicated on July 1, 1990. You can appreciate the bridge in terms of its location by the two bodies of water, its design, and its dedication.

If you’re looking for a hotel in Ashland, your travel interests can be a starting point for planning: local and railroad history offer a different focus from the waterside landscape and the Covered Bridge. You can first decide which of these aspects you’d like to shape your stay.

Discover more destinations: Holderness, Hebron, Canaan, Woodstock, Alexandria, Bethlehem, Hanover, Littleton.

For the broader travel overview: Grafton.