The Town of Exeter was a busy seaport in the early 1700s, the town, founded in 1638, became a thriving seaport without a sea, with gundalow boats making their way up to what is now Swasey Parkway from Great Bay to transport lumber to England.
The Exeter Brass Band was founded in 1847 and has held summer concerts in the Bandstand since then. The Brass Band still plays there each Monday night in July.
Enjoy the stories behind America’s revolutionary past by visiting the American Independence Museum. The museum features stories of the brave men and women who overcame their uncertainties about freedom from Great Britain and established our country. While it is known for its July 21st Independence Festival, the American Independence Museum has programs and events planned throughout the year.
Swasey Parkway hosts weekly farmers’ markets, town festivals, and outdoor movies. Kayakers launch into the Squamscott River from the town boat landing beside the Phillips Exeter boathouse.
