Franklin Pierce Homestead, Presidential house museum in Hillsborough, United States
The Franklin Pierce Homestead is a two-story wooden building with multiple entrances, a central hallway, and four main rooms on the ground floor. The standout feature is a full-width ballroom that dominates the interior and reflects the family's social standing.
Benjamin Pierce, a Revolutionary War veteran and New Hampshire governor, built this house in 1804 for his family, which included future president Franklin Pierce. The property demonstrates how the early nation's political leadership lived and structured their family estates.
The interior rooms display original stenciled decorations from the 1800s that reflect how wealthy New England families preferred to decorate their homes. These hand-applied patterns show the everyday aesthetic choices people made during that era.
The house is open seasonally from May through October, giving visitors time to explore the interior rooms and their original details. A converted barn nearby serves as a welcome center where you can gather information before wandering the grounds.
The property sits on 13 acres of land that visitors often overlook while focusing on the main house. The surrounding grounds give you a sense of how the family spent time outdoors and made use of their full estate.
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