Betty and Barney Hill Honored with a Historical Marker 

betty and barney Hill historical marker

While several states may hesitate to honor their UFO encounters, New Hampshire stands out for its fiercely independent spirit, encapsulated in its famous motto, "Live Free or Die." On July 20, 2011, the state proudly unveiled a historical marker dedicated to the extraordinary close encounter and "lost" time experienced by Portsmouth residents Betty and Barney Hill during the night of September 19-20, 1961. This commemorative marker is strategically positioned along the highway near Cabin #20 at the Indian Head Resort in North Lincoln, directly across from the iconic granite formation known as Indian Head.

The journey to establish this historical marker took root with Mike Stevens, a resident of Farmington, NH, who initiated a petition advocating for recognition of the Hills' UFO incident. He was informed by the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, within the Department of Cultural Resources, that a formal request was necessary. Over the subsequent 3-4 years, Kathleen Marden  worked closely to craft the appropriate wording for the marker, while also collaborating with the state as the niece of the Hills and a trustee of Betty's estate. Mike's vision and motivation were vital to bringing this marker to fruition; his involvement was the catalyst that ensured this significant piece of history would not be lost to time.

Subsequently, team members at the Department of Cultural Resources reached out to Kathleen for input on crafting the text for the marker—a task that proved to be quite challenging in its own right. Each assertion needed to be meticulously footnoted and underpinned by strong evidence to ensure its truthfulness and precision. In total, the text for the 12-line plaque included 20 footnotes and referenced 28 sources in its bibliography.

The final wording approved by the state agency reads as follows:

On the night of September 19-20, 1961, Portsmouth, NH couple Betty and Barney Hill experienced a close encounter with an unidentified flying object and two hours of “lost” time while driving south on Rte. 3 near Neat Lincoln. They filed an official Air Force Project Blue Book report of a brightly lit cigar-shaped craft the next day but were not public with their story until it was leaked in the Boston Traveler in 1965. This was the first widely reported UFO abduction report in the United States.

The final decision was reached, confirming that US Highway 3, right in front of the Indian Head Resort, stood as the ideal spot for the historical marker. This location provides ample parking and ensures easy access for the public.

© 2026 Betty and Barney Hill Official Site