Dover in Strafford County, New Hampshire — The American Northeast (New England)

Creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Photographed by Kelly Marsh, November 9, 2023

1. Creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Marker

Inscription. In November 1983, while living in Dover, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created a cast of Ninja weapon-wielding turtles during a late-night drawing session. Amused by the absurdity of the idea the duo developed the story of four teenage turtle brothers: Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michaelangelo. The one-shot comic, published independently by Mirage studios on Union Street, debuted in 1984. Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles soon became a full comic series and ultimately an international multimedia franchise.

Erected 2023 by New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. (Marker Number 0290.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1983.

Location. 43° 11.342′ N, 70° 52.453′ W. Marker is in Dover, New Hampshire, in Strafford County. It is at the intersection of Union Street and Union Street, on the right when traveling south on Union Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 174 Union St, Dover NH 03820, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Home of John Parker Hale (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Original Site Of Mirage Studios (approx. 0.2 miles away); Maurice J. Burke Memorial

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Dover NH Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dover's City Hall and Opera House Burned (approx. 0.3 miles away); Spanish American War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dover NH WWI Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Central Square (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dover.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . . Dover unveils new markers to celebrate birthplace of TMNT (YouTube, 40 seconds). WMUR newsclip: In addition to a historical marker, a decorative manhole cover was placed on Union Street, where Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird lived when they created the comic book. (Submitted on November 11, 2023.)

Photographed by Kelly Marsh, November 9, 2023

2. Creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire. This page has been viewed 1,442 times since then and 99 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 9, 2023, by Kelly Marsh of Moultonboro, New Hampshire. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.