The Durham Historic District preserves the oldest part of town along the Oyster River, where Colonial-era and Federal-period buildings cluster around the original settlement. The district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and takes in the waterfront area near Wiswall Road, including the site of the 1694 Oyster River Massacre, when Abenaki warriors attacked the settlement and killed or captured nearly 100 residents. It's a quiet spot today — more pastoral than dramatic — but the historical weight is palpable if you know what to look for.