Museums and Galleries in Laconia

Most people know Laconia for its lakes and for Motorcycle Week. Fewer know that the city has one of the best-preserved early textile mills in New England, a rock carved by colonial surveyors in 1652, and a 1914 theater brought back to life after nearly two decades dark. If you are looking for museums in Laconia NH, or simply something to do on a rainy day in the Lakes Region, this guide covers the city's history and culture stops, all of them in our directory.

Laconia at a glance

Laconia is a city in Belknap County and the county seat. The 2020 census counted 16,871 residents. It sits between Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam and includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Each June the city hosts Laconia Motorcycle Week, one of the country's largest motorcycle rallies.

The city is named for Laconia, a region of southern Greece. Long before the city existed, a large Abenaki settlement called Aquadoctan stood at the place now called The Weirs, named for the fishing weirs colonists found at the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River. That deep history is one reason Laconia has more to see than a quick drive along the lake suggests.

The Belknap Mill: Laconia's founding industry

Start downtown at the Belknap Mill, at 25 Beacon Street East, beside the Winnipesaukee River that once powered it.

The building was put up between 1823 and 1828, replacing a wooden mill on the same site that burned in 1823. It is a rare, well-preserved example of an early rural textile mill in New England, and the city grew up around it. The mill produced textiles until 1969. It opened as a museum in 1991 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The building itself is the main exhibit: three and a half stories of brick with a stepped gable roof, a row of clerestory windows and a wooden cupola that holds a bell. A brick addition from around 1900 housed three power turbines. Inside, the museum explores the mill's architectural history and industrial heritage in galleries on the first and fourth floors. The Belknap Mill has been designated the Official Meetinghouse of New Hampshire, and today it also hosts classes, workshops, family programs and community events, so it is worth checking its calendar.

Next door stands the Busiel-Seeburg Mill, a hosiery mill built in stages from 1853. It is now an office building, but seeing the two mills together gives a sense of how industry shaped downtown.

Why go: It is the single best place to understand how Laconia came to be.

Endicott Rock: a 1652 landmark at the Weirs

Head north to Weirs Beach and the Endicott Rock Historic Site, on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee.

In 1652, surveyors for the Massachusetts Bay Colony carved letters into a large rock that then sat in the lake. Among the markings is "IOHN ENDICUT GOV," a reference to John Endecott, then governor of the colony, along with the surveyors' initials. The colony's charter set its boundary three miles north of the Merrimack River, and the survey party believed it had found the river's northernmost head. It had not, but the rock remains one of the earliest physical traces of Europeans in the area.

For years the rock was forgotten, until it was rediscovered in the 19th century when the Weirs Channel was dredged. The state built a pavilion over it and stabilized its cracks with iron fittings. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Admission to the small park is free and there are picnic facilities, though parking nearby has a fee.

Why go: It is a quick, free stop that pairs well with a day at Weirs Beach.

The Colonial Theatre: a 1914 stage reborn

Back downtown, the Colonial Theatre at 609 Main Street is the city's great restoration story.

The Colonial opened in 1914, designed by architect George I. Griffin. Its original owner came from Venice, Italy, and the theater had a fire curtain showing Venice seen from the water. It hosted stage productions and early films, and by the early 1930s it had turned to motion pictures. In 1983 it was divided into five movie screens, and in August 2002 it closed after 87 years.

Restoration began in March 2016 and was completed in spring 2021. Today the Colonial seats 761 and hosts music, theater, comedy and civic events. It is managed by Spectacle Live and is home to the Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative.

Why go: Even if you are not seeing a show, the theater is a centerpiece of downtown's revival. If you can, plan an evening around a performance.

Autopac Gallery: vintage racing history

For something different, the Autopac Gallery at 126 Doris Ray Court holds a collection of vintage race cars, street cars, antique cars and racing memorabilia. The collection grew from its founder's lifelong passion for racing, and the gallery describes itself as a glimpse into New England's racing past.

The gallery highlights a featured car of the month and hosts occasional events. Visits are arranged by appointment, so contact the gallery before you go.

Why go: Car and racing enthusiasts will find a collection you will not see anywhere else in the Lakes Region.

The CAKE Theatre: rock and roll downtown

The CAKE Theatre at 12 Veterans Square is a transformed downtown space with a custom stage built for rock and roll. It is the home of Recycled Percussion, and the venue describes the experience as a Las Vegas-style production right in Laconia.

Why go: If your idea of culture includes loud music, lights and high energy, this is Laconia's most unusual stage.

Putting together a Laconia culture day

1. Morning at the Belknap Mill. Tour the galleries and walk the riverbank downtown.

2. Lunch downtown. Main Street and the streets around it are easy to explore on foot.

3. Afternoon at the Weirs. Visit Endicott Rock, then walk the boardwalk at Weirs Beach.

4. Evening show. Catch a performance at the Colonial Theatre or the CAKE Theatre.

If you love cars, schedule an Autopac Gallery appointment for the late morning or afternoon.

Practical tips

Check calendars. The Belknap Mill, the Colonial and the CAKE Theatre all run event schedules that change through the year.

Plan around Motorcycle Week. Each June, Laconia hosts one of the country's largest motorcycle rallies. Expect heavy traffic, especially around Weirs Beach. If you want quiet museum visits, choose another week. If you want the energy, book lodging early.

Rainy-day backup. These stops make a good plan B when the weather turns on a lake vacation.

Accessibility. Historic buildings vary in access. Call ahead if you need specific accommodations.

FAQ

What is the oldest historic site in Laconia?

Endicott Rock, carved by Massachusetts Bay Colony surveyors in 1652, is one of the earliest traces of European presence in the area. The Belknap Mill dates to the 1820s.

Is the Belknap Mill a museum?

Yes. It opened as a museum in 1991 and explores the building's architecture and industrial heritage, alongside classes and community events.

Is Endicott Rock free?

Admission to the site is free, though nearby parking has a fee.

What is there to do in Laconia when it rains?

The Belknap Mill, the Autopac Gallery by appointment, and a show at the Colonial Theatre or the CAKE Theatre.

Sources

• Laconia, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, county seat, villages, Motorcycle Week, Aquadoctan): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laconia,_New_Hampshire
• Belknap-Sulloway Mill, Wikipedia (construction dates, operation until 1969, museum 1991, NRHP 1971): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belknap-Sulloway_Mill
• Busiel-Seeburg Mill, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Busiel-Seeburg_Mill
• Belknap Mill (galleries, Official Meetinghouse of New Hampshire, address): https://www.belknapmill.org/
• Endicott Rock, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endicott_Rock
• Colonial Theatre of Laconia, Our History: https://coloniallaconia.com/history/
• Autopac Gallery: https://autopacgallery.com/
• The CAKE Theatre: https://www.thecaketheatre.com/about