Dover celebrates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with commemorative markers

posted on 11/14/2023

Two commemorative markers honoring Dover as the birthplace of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were unveiled in the city on Nov. 8.

The events mark the 40th anniversary of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise and the 400th anniversary of Dover. Mirage Studios, formed by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, was located at 28 Union St. in Dover, where the first TMNT comic book was created before the company moved to Northampton, Mass.

Eastman and Laird’s wife, Jeannine Atkins, and members of Laird’s family were on hand for the celebrations. Eastman and Atkins spoke to the crowd about the history of TMNT. Dover resident James Lane, whose dedication to ensuring a marker at 28 Union St., also spoke.

“This is home to us,” Eastman said. “This is where they were created.”

The state historical marker at Union Street’s intersection with Central Avenue was unveiled first followed by the decorative manhole cover at 28 Union St., where TMNT creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird lived when they created the comic book in 1983. Eastman created the artwork for the cover.

The commemorations are made possible by the Dover Arts Commission, the city's Planning Department, the New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, Griffin Hansen of the Animation Education Association, and James Lane, who organized a fundraising campaign to which more than 200 people donated $13,000 to privately fund the decorative sewer manhole cover.

Watch the video of the event below.