New Hampshire is more interesting than you think, and you can learn more on Instagram.
“Somewhere on a desert highway
She rides a Harley-Davidson
Her long blonde hair flyin’ in the wind
She’s been runnin’ half of her life
The Chrome and steel she rides
Collidin’ with the very air she breathes
The air she breathes”
– “Unknown Legend”, Neil Young
Released in 1992, the song “Unknown Legend” could not have come at a more pivotal time in my life. That was the year I would enter the world as an adult. I got my first tattoo, graduated from Stevens High School the next day, and began a lifetime of working in education. I had always wanted to have my blonde hair flyin’ in the wind on my own motorcycle; My love of history began in eighth grade at Talbert Middle School in Ms. Reed’s U.S. History class and has never abated over the years. Since 1992, I have learned to ride a motorcycle and have done so all over New Hampshire and Vermont.
I have loved traveling even longer than I’ve loved history. Almost every summer of my childhood, my Bammie and Grampa would pack us in the station wagon and bring my sister and me somewhere, usually the White Mountains. I loved it so much that I eventually made a sign for the tailgate of the station wagon that said “Walley World,” after the fictional theme park destination in National Lampoon’s Vacation. My sis and I would sit in the reverse back seat, waving to the passers by who “got it.” I’ve always liked making people laugh.
Fast forward to April break, 2025: I have taught at six schools (excluding my two stints in daycare centers) and to hundreds of students. While on break in April, I was vacationing in the White Mountains again and I happened upon the White Birch Book Store in Conway. In this great little bookstore, I found a copy of Cruising New Hampshire History by Michael A. Bruno.
Since my childhood, I have always looked for places to go, things to see, and quests! In my mid-30s, I started keeping track of all the major roads I traveled on via my motorcycle in New Hampshire and Vermont. I finished New Hampshire a few years ago. Don’t worry, Vermont, I’ll finish someday! Then my sister Jen and nephew Dylan came for a visit from California in 2021, and we stayed at the Eagle Mountain Resort. I wondered, how many grand hotels are left in New Hampshire? It’s four, by the way… Challenge accepted! Yes, I have now stayed at all the remaining grand hotels in New Hampshire (and figured out ways not to pay the usual high rates). So, when I started reading Bruno’s book on discovering New Hampshire state markers, I thought why not?
As I started finding markers, I thought about how many of my students think we live in a small, boring state; they are wrong. I also lamented that many have not and will not travel much in their lives. This was proven when I took a class up the Cog Railway to the top of Mount Washington; probably less than 1/2 a dozen had been to Mount Washington, and many had not been to the White Mountains. Over the summer, I started thinking about creating an Instagram page to show kids of all ages how cool our state is and how important it is to travel as a way to discover local history and culture. Being a long-in-the-tooth teacher was getting in my way, and I put my Instagram idea on the back burner.
In December 2025, I started a new job at Dartmouth College. My energy slowly returned, and the Instagram idea kept nagging at my brain. Finally, on New Year’s Eve, I made my first official post to @NHUnkownLegend. On it, you will find my escapades hunting State Markers, past trips, and I anticipate sharing some tips to show my students, err… followers, that you don’t need a lot of money or fancy gear to travel.
Already, I have posted state markers from the White Mountains to Londonderry. My first reel of the beautiful dogs at Muddy Paws Dog Sledding in Jefferson is the first of what I hope will be many. Next, I need to overcome my fear of being in FRONT of the camera. You can find photos of my 2006 trip to Japan, my 2024 trip to California for Christmas, and my most recent trip to the White Mountains.
In the future, I foresee the possibility of including some good places to eat because we all need food. Someday soon, I’ll even post the state markers for Claremont! So please follow me on Instagram, where the photos are plentiful, and encourage your friends to do the same!
Thank you Jill for sharing your writing with us! If you would like to share a member highlight, contact us with your musings, pitches, and drafts. We love supporting local historians and sustainers of local cultural folkways.
The Claremont Historical Society Board of Trustees
