Weeks Estate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Weeks State Park |
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View from stone tower on Weeks Estate
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| Location | US 3, Lancaster, New Hampshire, United States |
| Area | 446 acres (180 ha) |
| Elevation | 2,014 feet (614 m) |
| Established | 1941 |
| Administered by | New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Designation | New Hampshire state park |
| Website | Weeks State Park |
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Weeks Estate
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The Weeks Lodge
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| Area | 2.9 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001190 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1985 |
Weeks State Park is a cool place to visit in Lancaster, New Hampshire. It used to be the home of a very important person named John Wingate Weeks. His family built this amazing estate in 1912 on top of Prospect Mountain. From here, you can see beautiful views of the Connecticut River. This park is one of the best examples of a large country home from the early 1900s that is still well-preserved. John Wingate Weeks' children later gave the estate to the state of New Hampshire, and that's how it became Weeks State Park. Today, you can explore hiking trails, climb a stone tower for awesome views, and visit a small museum inside the main house. A small part of the mountain top was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 because it's so important.
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Exploring Weeks State Park
Weeks State Park covers about 420 acres of land south of Lancaster. It includes all of Prospect Mountain, which is a low peak. At 2,037 feet above sea level, it's the highest point on a small ridge that goes east from the Connecticut River. Most of the park is covered in woods. There are also special spots along Route 3 where you can pull over and enjoy the scenery. Sometimes, there's even a small ski area called Mount Prospect Ski Tow on the western side of the mountain.
Getting to the Top
A narrow road, about 2 miles long, leads from Route 3 up to the top of the mountain where the main buildings are. Along this road, you'll find places to park and stop. From these spots, you can see amazing views of the Connecticut River and the famous White Mountains. It's a great place to take photos!
The Historic Buildings at the Summit
At the very top of Prospect Mountain, you'll find several interesting buildings that were part of the original estate. These include the main house, a building for carriages, a tall stone tower, and quarters for the servants.
The Main House
The main house has two stories and is covered in a special plaster called stucco. It mixes different styles, like the old English Tudor look and the Spanish Mediterranean style. The roof is made of red tiles and has a unique clipped gable shape. You'll also see decorative wood beams on the outside, which is a classic English country style.
Other Estate Buildings
The carriage house and the servants' quarters have a similar style to the main house. However, their roofs are made of asphalt shingles instead of red tiles. These buildings helped the estate run smoothly when the Weeks family lived there.
The Stone Observation Tower
One of the coolest features is the round stone tower. It used to hold a large water tank inside. But now, it's open for everyone to explore! You can climb to the top and enjoy incredible 360-degree views of the countryside all around you. It's a perfect spot to see how beautiful New Hampshire is.
The Weeks Family Museum
Inside the main house, there's a museum. Here, you can learn all about the history of the Weeks family. You'll also discover how John Wingate Weeks played a big role in the early conservation movement in the 1900s. This movement was all about protecting nature and creating national forests.
The Story of Weeks State Park
John Wingate Weeks was born in Lancaster, New Hampshire. He later became a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts. He started buying land on Prospect Mountain, close to where his family had lived for a long time.
Building the Estate
In 1912, the auto road leading up the mountain was built, and so was the main house. John Wingate Weeks was a very important person in getting the Weeks Act passed in 1911. This law was super important because it allowed the government to create national forests in the eastern United States. One of these forests, the White Mountain National Forest, can even be seen from the top of Prospect Mountain!
A Legacy of Service
Weeks continued his public service and became the United States Secretary of War in the 1920s. This was a very high position in the government. After his passing, his children decided to give this special property to the state of New Hampshire in 1941. That's how it became Weeks State Park, a place for everyone to enjoy. The summit area of the park was recognized as a historic place in 1985.
