Prehistoric hunters may have roamed what is now New Hampshire as early as 6000 B.C. However, little is known of the early Indians in this area. In historic times, when European explorers arrived, the region was inhabited by western Abnaki tribes, including the Sokoki and the Penacooks.

Important dates in New Hampshire
1603 Martin Pring of England explored the mouth of the Piscataqua River.
1614 Captain John Smith of England landed on the Isles of Shoals.
1620's David Thomson and Edward Hilton established the first permanent settlements in New Hampshire.
1641 The Massachusetts Colony gained control of New Hampshire.
1680 New Hampshire became a separate royal colony.
1776 New Hampshire broke away from Britain and adopted a temporary constitution.
1784 New Hampshire adopted its present constitution.
1788 New Hampshire became the ninth state when it ratified the U.S. Constitution on June 21.
1853 Franklin Pierce of Hillsboro became the 14th president of the United States.
1944 The International Monetary Conference was held at Bretton Woods.
1961 Alan B. Shepard, Jr., of East Derry became the first American to travel in space.
1964 The New Hampshire sweepstakes lottery began. It was the first legal U.S. lottery since the 1890's.
1986 Christa McAuliffe, a Concord teacher, was among the seven crew members killed when the space shuttle Challenger broke apart shortly after take-off.
1997-2003 Jeanne Shaheen served three terms as governor of New Hampshire. Shaheen was the first woman to be elected to the office.