Gilman Garrison House

The Gilman Garrison House is a colonial dwelling in Exeter featuring massive sawn log walls and a gabled roof spanning two and a half stories. The structure displays visible timber framing combined with clapboarded exterior sections that reveal multiple building phases from different periods.

Built in 1709 near the Squamscot River, the house originally served the Gilman family who operated profitable sawmills throughout the region. The structure survived the colonial era and was modified multiple times as building practices and family needs shifted.

The house demonstrates how people in New England built and modified their homes using massive timber construction. The visible wood framing and how rooms changed over time show the practical choices families made to suit their daily lives.

The house is not directly accessible from the water despite the river's proximity, and the entrances are secured. Visitors should allow plenty of time to explore the intricate interior spaces and multiple levels carefully.

The building retains its original pulley system positioned above the main entrance that once operated a portcullis, demonstrating an uncommon defensive feature in early American residences. Few colonial homes have preserved such mechanical protective devices.