Exeter (pop. 14,000) was established in 1638 by Rev. John Wheelwright, a radical with revolutionary ideas, who had been expelled from Boston. The town adopted this attitude as it developed. When the war broke out the capital was moved from Portsmouth to Exeter. The town is home to the private Phillips Exeter Academy, a prep school.
The American Independence Museum explores the history of the town and its people.
The American Independence Museum in Exeter is comprised of the restored Ladd-Gilman House which was built in the 1700's. It began as a small brick house which was enlarged over the years. The Folsom Tavern was built in 1775. The museum features information on the American Revolution with a focus on Exeter and the families of the Ladds, the Gilmans and the Folsoms.
The Moses-Kent House was built in 1868 in Exeter. It features beautifully designed grounds. The grounds are thought to have been designed by Olmstead, who designed Central Park in New York City.