Concord Civic District - Concord, New Hampshire
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 43° 12.420 W 071° 32.262
19T E 293847 N 4786928
Not to be confused with the Concord Historical District, which is in the same area.
Waymark Code: WMZYZM
Location: New Hampshire, United States
Date Posted: 01/26/2019
Views: 2
County of district: Merrimack County
Location of district: 107 N. Main St., 25 Capitol St., 39--45 Green St., 20--30 Park St., and 33 N. State St. , Concord
Date entered on NRHP: 1983
"The Concord Civic District consists of eight buildings and numerous commemorative
statuary grouped around and including the New Hampshire State House. The buildings
form a panorama of architectural styles ranging from the eclectic modes of the
nineteenth century to the classically derived and classical reactions of the
twentieth. While each displays a distinct character they are united by their
public and institutional nature and by the predominant use of local Concord
granite, a fine light gray biotite-muscovite granite with a bluish cast still
quarried in the area.' The siting of the buildings responds to the grid of the
street layout but few of the buildings are built near the street line. Most are
set back on generous lawns surrounded by lush plantings and substantial trees.
Each building site incorporates granite walks and is outlined by a border of
granite curbing.
"The State House is the symbolic focus of downtown Concord, a prominent visual
landmark which acted as' an'.impetus for 'the 'siting of the buildings around it.
It has evolved to meet a growing government; housing 204 legislators when
built in 1819, it .now contains 424 members, the largest state legislature in
the country. The streets around the State House responded to its growth.
Main and State Streets predate the State House while Green Street was in place
by 1834. Park Street was laid out from State to Main''Street in 1834 and from
State to Green Street in 1884. .Capitol Street dates to 1864. The district
area was marked by a gradual transition from residential to institutional
structures. The contrast in size between the two often adjacent types further
emphasized the presence of the large public edifices. This juxtaposition is
still somewhat evident on the edges of the district today." ~ NRHP Nomination Form