Franklin Town Guide: Where to Eat, Stay and Explore

Franklin is the smallest of New Hampshire's 13 cities, and it is easy to drive through on the way to somewhere else. That would be a mistake. The city sits where two rivers meet to form the Merrimack, it has New England's first whitewater park in its downtown, and it holds the boyhood home of one of the country's most famous orators. This guide covers things to do in Franklin NH, with local businesses from our directory to build a visit around.

Franklin at a glance

Franklin is a city in northern Merrimack County with a population of 8,741 at the 2020 census, the lowest of the state's 13 cities. It includes the village of West Franklin. The city covers about 29.2 square miles, with Webster Lake in the north.

U.S. Route 3 and New Hampshire Route 11 together form Central Street, Franklin's main street. Heading east, they lead to Tilton and Laconia, which puts Franklin on the western doorstep of the Lakes Region. To the south, Route 3 runs to Boscawen and Concord.

A city built on rivers

Franklin sits at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers, which join here to form the Merrimack River. The area was settled in 1764 and was first known as Pemigewasset Village. It took the name Franklin in 1820 in honor of Benjamin Franklin, incorporated as a town in 1828, and became a city in 1895.

Water power from the falls on the Winnipesaukee River made Franklin a mill town, and the rivers are still the reason most visitors stop today. The city lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed, and the downtown riverfront has been reimagined as a recreation area.

Mill City Park and the whitewater

The headline attraction is Mill City Park at Franklin Falls, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting the community to the Winnipesaukee River. It operates what it describes as the first whitewater park in New England, alongside a land-based park downtown. In summer, that means paddlers working the river features in the middle of the city, with space on shore for walking and watching.

If you paddle, check the park's website for current conditions, access and any guidance before you put in. If you do not, it is still worth an hour to walk the riverbank and see the project.

The Daniel Webster Birthplace

Daniel Webster, the statesman and orator, was born in 1782 in a section of present-day Franklin that was then part of Salisbury. The Daniel Webster Birthplace State Historic Site, off Route 127, preserves the two-room house associated with his birth and early childhood. The restored house reflects late 18th-century farm life, and it is open seasonally, typically on weekends.

As an adult, Webster also owned a farm called The Elms near the Merrimack River along what is now Route 3. The birthplace is the easier stop for visitors and gives a sense of how modest his beginnings were.

• Daniel Webster Birthplace State Historic Site

The Franklin Falls Reservoir

North of downtown, the Franklin Falls Dam on the Pemigewasset River was built between 1939 and 1943 by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. The dam stretches about three quarters of a mile across the river. Its construction forced residents of the neighboring town of Hill to relocate to higher ground, a story remembered by a state historical marker for New Hill Village.

The reservoir's permanent pool covers 440 acres, and the full project, including the surrounding managed lands, covers 3,683 acres. Those lands host hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, hunting, snowshoeing and disc golf, which makes the reservoir one of the most useful outdoor areas in the region for a half day outside.

Webster Lake and the quieter corners

Not every Franklin outing needs a plan. Webster Lake, in the north of the city, is a calmer body of water than the big Lakes Region lakes to the east, and the hills toward the northwest corner of the city reach about 1,370 feet, its highest point. West Franklin, across the river from downtown, is where Route 3 and Route 11 part ways, one heading south toward Concord and the other west toward Andover and New London, so it is a natural pivot point for a longer loop through central New Hampshire.

Arts downtown

The Franklin Opera House is home to a community arts organization that presents performances and events downtown. It is worth checking the calendar on its website if you are planning an evening in the city; a show here pairs well with dinner on Central Street.

• Franklin Opera House

Where to eat and drink

Vulgar Brewing Company. Vulgar Brewing, at 378 Central Street, specializes in classic, drinkable beer styles and serves food alongside its taps. The brewery says it sources hops, malt, produce and meats from New England farms whenever possible. It is a relaxed stop after an afternoon on the river.

• Vulgar Brewing Company

Waterhorse Irish Pub. In the heart of Franklin, Waterhorse Irish Pub is named after the mythical waterhorse and leans into Irish tradition, with a curated craft beer list and a generous selection of Irish whiskey. It also hosts functions and offers online ordering.

• Waterhorse Irish Pub

Shopping

Grevior Furniture. Grevior Furniture is a furniture and mattress store at 440 Central Street in Franklin, with other stores in the area. It is a practical stop more than a tourist attraction, useful for anyone setting up a camp or second home in the area.

• Grevior Furniture

A sample day in Franklin

1. Morning: Walk the downtown riverfront at Mill City Park and watch the whitewater, or paddle it if you are equipped and experienced.

2. Midday: Lunch at Waterhorse Irish Pub or Vulgar Brewing.

3. Afternoon: Drive out Route 127 to the Daniel Webster Birthplace on a weekend in season, then continue to the Franklin Falls Reservoir lands for a walk or a round of disc golf.

4. Evening: Dinner downtown, and a show at the Franklin Opera House if one is scheduled.

Tips for visiting

• Pair it with the Lakes Region. Tilton and Laconia are a short drive east on Central Street's routes, so Franklin works as an add-on to a lake trip.
• Check seasonal hours. The Webster birthplace is open seasonally, and river access depends on conditions.
• Respect the river. Whitewater is fun and serious. Know your skill level and wear proper safety gear.
• Bring a disc. The reservoir lands include disc golf, an easy activity for families.

Frequently asked questions

What is Franklin NH known for?

Franklin is known for the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers, which form the Merrimack, for Mill City Park's whitewater, and as the birthplace of Daniel Webster.

Is Franklin NH a city or a town?

Franklin is a city. It incorporated as a town in 1828 and as a city in 1895, and it is the smallest of New Hampshire's 13 cities by population.

Can you visit Daniel Webster's birthplace?

Yes. The Daniel Webster Birthplace State Historic Site off Route 127 is open seasonally, typically on weekends.

What can you do at the Franklin Falls Reservoir?

The managed lands support hiking, mountain biking, fishing, kayaking, hunting, snowshoeing and disc golf.

Where is the first whitewater park in New England?

Mill City Park at Franklin Falls, on the Winnipesaukee River in downtown Franklin, describes itself as New England's first whitewater park.

Sources

• Franklin, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (population, history, rivers, routes, Daniel Webster): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin,_New_Hampshire
• Daniel Webster Birthplace State Historic Site, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Webster_Birthplace_State_Historic_Site
• Franklin Falls Dam, Wikipedia (construction, Hill relocation, reservoir size, recreation): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Falls_Dam
• Mill City Park official site (nonprofit, first whitewater park in New England): https://www.millcitypark.com/
• Franklin Opera House official site: https://www.franklinoperahouse.org/
• Vulgar Brewing Company official site (378 Central St, classic styles, local sourcing, food): https://vulgarbrewing.com/
• Waterhorse Irish Pub official site (craft beer, Irish whiskey, functions): https://thewaterhorsepub.com/
• Lakes Region Chamber directory, Grevior Furniture (440 Central Street, Franklin): https://business.lakesregionchamber.org/list/member/grevior-furniture-2253