By now, you may have noticed the little white kiosk on Main Street in front of the State House. This building houses brochures on area attractions and a real live volunteer ready to point you in the right direction.
The visitor kiosk is run by the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce from Memorial Day to Columbus Day, and is staffed entirely by volunteers who don’t mind giving up a few hours a week to chat with visitors to the capital city.
The chamber is looking for some friendly people for the summer season. Volunteers are needed in three-hour shifts, seven days a week. If you’d like some company, you can team up with a friend. For more information and to sign up, contact Carolyn O’Brien at the chamber of commerce at 224-2508 or e-mail cobrien@concordnhchamber.com.
Just so you know what you’re getting into, we sent questions to two current volunteers to get the scoop on what goes on behind the clapboard facade.
Pauline Healy
How long have you been volunteering at the kiosk? I have been a Granite State Ambassador since graduating from the Museum of New Hampshire History class in 2003, and have been volunteering at the downtown kiosk for the last four years.
What’s a question that you hear a lot? A question that I hear a lot is, as you might guess, “Where can I find a bathroom?” I also am often asked where 107 N. Main St. is, which is the State House. People also often ask where to eat or get a cup of coffee.
What are some things you like to recommend to visitors? Some of the things I recommend depend on the interest of the person asking me. I often ask them, “what kinds of things are you interested in?,” or “What kinds of food do you want to eat?,” and try to direct them according to their answers. I encourage them to visit the state capitol and the Museum of New Hampshire History because these things are close by. I also point out that we have brochures on the White Mountains Region, the Lakes Region and the Seacoast, as well as Concord and the surrounding area.
What do you do on your shift when you’re not helping tourists? When I’m not helping tourists, I usually bring that day’s Monitor with me and do the crossword puzzle and Sudoku, and finish reading the paper. I bring a book and would encourage anyone who does knitting or handwork to bring that with them. I also like to look over the brochures that we have and see if there are any new ones and pick out some that I’m not as familiar with and see what they offer.
Is there a particular brochure that just keeps flying off the racks? The brochure that flies off the rack most often is the one describing the State House lawn statues. We encourage people to see these historic pieces while they are right here.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Concord? My favorite thing about living in Concord is the small-town feeling, along with the persity that the city offers. Concord has very good theaters, we have a great variety of restaurants, we have a lot of history for visitors to see, we have many neighborhood parks and swimming pools, several hiking trails and we are only about an hour’s drive from the mountains, some beautiful lakes, the ocean and Boston. I often say, “Nothing is very far if you live in Concord.”
Betty Finan
How long have you been volunteering at the kiosk? I have worked at the kiosk since its inception.
What’s a question that you hear a lot? Most asked questions are where are the restrooms, what is there to see in a short amount of time and where to eat.
What are some things you like to recommend to visitors? I recommend the State House tours or self-guided tour of the State House, the planetarium or New Hampshire Historical Museum. It really depends on the visitor’s interest. If they have the time, Canterbury Shaker Village is another option.
What do you do on your shift when you’re not helping tourists? I generally read, knit or just chat with some of the people that pass by. There are many people who don’t want information but just like to talk with someone there.
Is there a particular brochure that just keeps flying off the racks? State maps are the most requested item and of course, anything to do with Concord.
What’s your favorite thing about Concord? I live in Bow but Concord is our center. It is convenient to the lakes, mountains, seacoast, southwestern and southern New Hampshire and within an hour, you can be just about anywhere in the state. I recommend, if they have time, to explore the back roads to see some of the lovely towns and villages and most say this is what they want to see.
