Logo and Identity Banner

Preserving the History & Heritage of Lake Winnipesaukee & Vicinity

Top Navigation Tabs

Image Slider

Slide 1 Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4 Slide 5 Slide 6 Slide 7

Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest lake, was formed during the last Ice Age. With its shores long inhabited by the Abenaki, they named the lake "Wiwninbesoki" meaning "the land that surrounds the lake", though the name is popularly translated as "Smile of the Great Spirit" due to a romantic legend of tribal peace. European exploration began in the 17th century, with colonial grants in the 18th century leading to settlements around the lake's shores. By the 19th century, steamships like the Lady of the Lake (1849) enabled mass transport and tourism, while Governor John Wentworth's 1760s estate in Wolfeboro marked that town as "America's Oldest Summer Resort." Today, dotted with over 250 islands, Lake Winnipesaukee is beloved for boating and scenic beauty.

Footer Navigation and Copyright

End of Page Javascript