Rye, New Hampshire: A Town at the Crossroads of American History Paperback – October 31, 2025

The Rye story is very much an American story because of the town’s strategic coastal location. Forover four centuries people have been coming and going from all directions.From the 17th century forward, Rye’s fishing and farming history is deep and rich and its cast of characters are colorful.The 18th century saw the American Revolution begin when Rye citizens marched to Fort Williamand Mary to defy the British. In the 19th century, the first translatlantic cable was laid and it cameashore in Rye, NH. The 1800s and 1900s saw the rise of hotel and tourist culture, when presidents,actors, and scions of high society came to Rye and brought with them news of the world. Rye hasbeen, for four centuries, a town at the crossroads of American history.This book gives a broad overview of all of the town’s history, thus complementing the fine work ofLangdon Parsons’ History of Rye NH in 1905.The history is enriched by contributions from over a dozen people past and present. Read more